The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
Condemning the Widespread Poll Violence and Manipulation
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the manner in which the elections to the 108 Municipal bodies in West Bengal on 27 February were reduced to a farce. Through connivance between the TMC and the state administration overwhelming majority of the voters where denied the right to exercise their vote.
The extent of rigging was so intense that at the later stages of polling, the representative of the State Election Commission had confessed that the situation had gone out of control of the Commission. Violence and intimidation where polling agents and candidates were mercilessly assaulted have been widely covered by the mass media. It is clear that under the TMC led state government and with complete politicisation of the police force, no free and fair election is possible.
The CPI(M) congratulates Party candidates, activists and democratic minded citizens for putting up resistance in some places challenging the shameful and aggressive actions of the TMC.
The CPI(M) Polit Bureau appeals to the democratic minded people all over the country to protest and express their solidarity and support with those who are struggling to protect democratic rights against the authoritarian onslaughts of the TMC led government.