The dominance of the ruling TMC over West Bengal politics is once again vindicated in the results of the Panchayat elections. The party swept the polls winning a majority in all three tiers with arch rivalBJP a distant second: 2,552 out of 3,317 gram panchayats (BJP 212), 232 panchayat samitis (BJP 7), and 12 of 20 zilla parishads.

Expectedly, the polls were scarred with 45 killed in violence during the democratic exercise, having the Calcutta High Court putting a question mark on the final results. Dealing with petitions alleging largescale violence, electoral malpractices, and demand for repoll in 50,000 booths, the Court on Wednesday last said: the elections and declaration of results will be subject to final orders and directed the SEC, State and Central governments to file affidavits dealing with all allegations.

The violence has caught the concern of thinking people across the country about the standards of our democracy. Panchayats are supposed to be embodying the participation of citizens at the grassroots in democratic decision making.

It is true that Bengal has a tradition of violence from the halcyon days of the Communist rule that lasted over three decades. The general impression is that the TMC supremo Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also ‘risen with the sword’ as she had to pay the Communists in their own coin. And now the guns are trained against the BJP.

The aftermath has seen the usual pow-wow between the two parties, with the BJP accusing the TMC of throttling democracy and its hooliganism crossing all limits. The latter hits back saying BJP was spewing baseless accusations while conveniently ignoring the cesspool in its own backyard.

Expectedly Raj Bhavan took the first opportunity to take a swipe at the TMC with Governor Ananda Bose saying “political parties should realise elections are not grounds to examine physical strength…Now is the time for introspection. Democratic elections are friendly contests that shouldn’t generate hatred or violence”.

Isn’t he asking for too much or rather talking of an era long gone? Wake up to the new harsh reality!