West Bengal has witnessed several instances of violence during the filing of nominations for the panchayat polls and thereafter. One incident involved the alleged hurling of crude bombs at a Block Development Office (BDO) in Ahmadpur, Birbhum district.
Ahead of the Panchayat election in West Bengal, the house of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate was attacked allegedly by Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Friday.
The polls are likely to see a fierce tussle for control of local administrations between the ruling Trinamool Congress, Indian Secular Front and the Bharatiya Janata Party and will be a litmus test for both parties ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections.
Pointing fingers at the Opposition over the violence in West Bengal in the run-up to the July 8 panchayat elections, ruling Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh on Thursday said of the 73,000 booths put together for the polls, there are only about 6-7 where the BJP, Congress and the CPI(M)
"We would like to tell the people of Bengal that your fund has been stopped by the BJP intentionally. Sukanta Majumdar and Suvendu Adhikari said the central government sends funds; I challenge them to come and discuss this topic," said TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee.
The Raj Bhavan issued a statement saying, "West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose forms a Peace and Social integration committee headed by former Chief Justice Calcutta High Court Subhro Kamal Mukherjee who has consented to be the interim Vice Chancellor of the Rabindra Bharati University (RBU)
West Bengal Governor also called SEC Rajiva Sinha in Raj Bhavan to discuss the issue of the report which he had got from the violence-hit areas in the state.
Sukanya Mondal, daughter of TMC Leader Anubrata Mondal, arrested in a money laundering case connected with the Multi Crore Cattle smuggling case has moved to Delhi High Court seeking bail in the case.
"The BJP's term is coming to an end; the 'Double-Engine' government concept has derailed. They will once again make false promises, but this time, the people are aware of their lies," she said.
"We are witnessing violence in Manipur, where people are not being able to come out of their homes. The BJP government has pitted the communities in Manipur against each other, which has led to these riots," she said.
" Conducting meetings with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and Central Security Agency to provide for security arrangements for members of BJP without consulting with the State or the State Election Commission," wrote TMC state Vice President Subrata Bakshi.
"Police recovered the body of a BJP leader named Bankim Hansda from the Bodo area of Purulia district. Further investigation into the matter is underway," said Purulia DSP Abhijeet Bandopadhyay.