Kolkata: West Bengal Governor Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose has determined to open a “Peace Room” at Raj Bhavan to register the grievances of these being allegedly threatened and going through intimidation forward of the panchayat polls scheduled for 8 July.
In a late-night communication to the media Saturday, the Raj Bhavan shared the official announcement with a round the clock helpline quantity and an e mail ID.
It mentioned that in view of “quite a few representations from the residents on legal intimidation in pre-poll Bengal”, “a assist room (Peace Room) has been opened in Raj Bhavan to reply to the grievances of the general public. The Peace Room will refer the problems to the Authorities and State Election Commissioner for acceptable motion.”
The transfer has drawn sharp criticism from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), with occasion MP Kalyan Banerjee claiming, “That is totally unconstitutional, he’s making an attempt to run a parallel authorities.”
“Within the title of a Peace Room, he’s spreading un-peace. A governor isn’t presupposed to operate just for the Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP). He’s solely visiting areas the place the BJP is asking him to,” he alleged.
Whereas Opposition events within the state have welcomed the governor’s transfer, they mentioned his powers are restricted.
Chatting with ThePrint, BJP MP and the occasion’s nationwide vice-president Dilip Ghosh mentioned, “Candidates are being threatened, voters are being threatened, violence has already begun in West Bengal over panchayat polls however the powers of the governor are restricted. He can solely give directions, however it’s as much as the federal government to pay heed, which I doubt it would.”
CPI(M) chief Samik Lahiri mentioned the governor has no authorized provisions to open such a ‘Peace Room’. “The governor is doing what the SEC [state election commission] ought to do. They need to arrange a helpline and construct the boldness of the voters. The governor has no authorized backing to open such a helpline or Peace Room at Raj Bhavan. The governor has no administrative powers.”
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury added that the governor’s intention could also be pious however it would hardly have any impression on floor.
“The Peace Room sounds good however when peace is absent within the state, it’s futile to open such a grievance cell. The governor can not act on this and finally has to depend upon the state authorities or the SEC to behave on the complaints, which gained’t occur.”
As violence was reported earlier this month over submitting of nomination between the TMC and opposition events in Bhangar and Canning in South 24 Parganas, the governor who was visiting Kerala on the time, reduce brief his journey and returned to the state.
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‘Discover insecurity in voters’
West Bengal will conduct panchayat polls throughout 58,513 gram panchayats, and 928 zilla parishads subsequent month. Whereas the Calcutta Excessive Courtroom has ordered the deployment of central forces throughout the state to conduct free and truthful polls, the State Election Fee (SEC) has challenged the order within the Supreme Courtroom.
A minimum of 4 individuals have been reportedly killed in alleged pre-poll violence within the state to date.
The governor visited Canning and components of Bhangar to take inventory of the scenario final week. He met the stakeholders, administration and even arrange a short lived ‘janta darbar’ in Bhangar to listen to the grievances of these affected in alleged pre-poll violence.
“I discover insecurity within the voters, intimidation, sturdy arm ways and flexing the muscle tissue are all reported right here. This isn’t acceptable. This goes in opposition to democracy and mobocracy appears to be taking up. Violence won’t be tolerated, none of those that are concerned in creating violence shall be spared,” Dr. Bose had mentioned Saturday throughout his subject go to.
In keeping with media reviews, the governor had additionally requested state election commissioner Rajiva Sinha for a gathering, however sources within the election workplace claimed that the latter skipped the assembly owing to scrutiny work. They mentioned the governor’s workplace was knowledgeable of this over phone Saturday.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
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