By IANS,
Kolkata: Three days before the victor of the West Bengal polls is declared, the Election Commission (EC) has already emerged as the winner, earning accolades for conducting one of the most peaceful elections in the politically volatile state.
One of the most keenly watched polls in the state, conducted in six phases, concluded Tuesday peacefully without a single death or any incidence of grave violence. Votes will be counted Friday.
A visibly elated state chief electoral officer (CEO) Sunil Kumar Gupta said: “Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) S.Y. Quraishi called me up and congratulated me and all the polling officials. He also thanked the people of Bengal and the political parties for the peaceful votes.”
“It’s teamwork. I am just a face of the four lakh people who worked day and night for over two months. A large extent of the credit, however, goes to the people and the political parties,” added Gupta.
The by and large peaceful election was characterised by large turnouts even in the Maoist-affected areas.
Polling in the Maoist-affected areas of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura, popularly referred as Junglemahal, posed the biggest challenge for the security forces and the election authorities. Places like Salboni, Jhargram, Nayagram, Binpur, Joypur and Bandwan have witnessed shootings and killings related to rebel violence during the past two years.
The entire area was virtually turned into a fortress with over 100,000 security personnel deployed to ensure peaceful polls.
“We were a bit apprehensive about the polls here (Junglemahal) but with the peaceful conclusion of the polls, our endeavour has been successful,” added Gupta.
Asked if he will now relax, Gupta said: “I cannot relax until the last polling official returns safely. Only the voting process has ended, it’s my responsibility to ensure that all the polling officials return safely.”
Gupta also added that in case the polling official could not return before darkness, alternate arrangements have been made for their stay in areas with adequate security.
With the state witnessing a spate of incidents of political violence resulting in a large number of deaths before the polls, there was apprehension at large about the polls. But the poll panel pulled it off, and has been getting praise from all quarters.
The state, which in the past saw rival parties trading charges of rigging and manipulation of the polls, also saw almost negligible number of such allegations.
And all the political parties generally expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the polls.
“I had appealed to the people to come out and vote without fear. I am happy that the people of Junglemahal have voted,” said Trinamool congress chief Mamata Banerjee.
“The polls were peaceful. We are satisfied with the polling,” Left Front chairman Biman Bose said.