Congress wants repoll but not President's rule

KOLKATA: Blaming the CPM for resorting to large-scale violence during the panchayat polls on Sunday, the state Congress demanded repoll 76 booths but refrained from asking for a fresh election in the state.
Describing the violence and death on the day of the sixth panchayat poll as unprecedented in the electoral history in West Bengal, state Congress president Pranab Mukherjee also alleged that two CPM ministers had personally led their supporters in Murshidabad and Nadia in violence and booth capturing.
Aware that most of the clashes that occurred during the day were between the CPM and the Congress, Mukherjee said, "The violence unleashed by the CPM began during the campaigning and has continued till the day of the poll. First the CPM prevented the Opposition candidates from filing nominations. Then they began the violence in Chopra where nine persons were killed. The third part was enacted today during the polls," he said.
Mukherjee alleged that two Left Front ministers — Anisur Rahman and Nayan Sarkar — had misused their official position by capturing booths in Murshidabad and Nadia.
"State animal husbandry minister Anisur Rahman used his official vehicle at Domkal in Murshidabad district and led his supporters during poll violence and booth capturing, while minister of state for refugee rehabilitation Nayan Sarkar did the same at Hanskhali in Nadia," Mukherjee said.
Sharply criticising the state election commissioner’s claims that the polls had been by and large peaceful, Mukherjee said, "So many people have died. So many allegations of booth capturing have reached the SEC. Yet he (the CM) describes the election as peaceful. This is a reflection of a perverted mind."
Stating that the law and order situation in the state was in a bad shape, Mukherjee, however, refrained from demanding Central intervention, as demanded by Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. "If she can get it done, let her go ahead. The NDA has a majority in the Rajya Sabha. Why do they ask for the support of the Congress," he said.
The state Congress demanded repolling in 18 booths in Murshidabad, 12 in North 24 Parganas, 14 in Burdwan, 17 in East Midnapore, three in Malda, two in Howrah and one booth in Hooghly.