Bengal Panchayat Election: Bhangar's Distinctive Muslim vs Muslim Turf Warfare as Violence Provides Method to Uneasy Silence

Bengal Panchayat Election: Bhangar's Distinctive Muslim vs Muslim Turf Warfare as Violence Provides Method to Uneasy Silence [ad_1]

Sixteen charred and ransacked automobiles, together with auto-rickshaws, pick-up vans, small vans and personal vehicles, are mendacity deserted close to the BDO’s workplace in Bhangar II – indicators of violence and arson that rocked the agricultural belt in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district a fortnight in the past. Vandalised and gutted retailers add to the scene on the floor adjoining to this workplace, which is popularly often called Bijoyganj Bazarer Math (Bijoyganj market floor).

Bhangar I and Bhangar II blocks, which have a complete of 19 Panchayats, witnessed violent clashes between members of the ruling Trinamool Congress and Indian Secular Entrance (ISF) through the submitting of nominations. Three individuals had been killed whereas half a dozen had been shot at and scores had been left injured. The nomination course of is now over and central safety forces are tenting within the space, the place protests have died down in the interim however there stays a simmering pressure.

The panchayat elections in Bengal have been violent for many years. At the same time as experiences of clashes from different districts proceed to pour in, the violence in Bhangar was distinctive.

Gutted retailers close to the Bijoyganj market floor the place violence broke out a fortnight in the past. ()

Right here, it's a turf warfare between two sections of Muslims – one belongs to the ruling TMC whereas the opposite is a disgruntled lot that jumped ship and joined the two-year-old ISF floated by a member of the Peerzada Siddiqui household of the state’s influential shrine – Furfura Sharif. Naushad Siddiqui gained the Bhangar meeting seat, which is dominated by Muslims, in 2021.

TMC up in opposition to new participant ISF

The South 24 Parganas district has 29 blocks. Of those, two are beneath the Bhangar meeting constituency. In accordance with the ultimate synoptic report of the state election fee (SEC), the district has 6,383 panchayat seats. The TMC has fielded candidates in all, whereas the BJP has fielded 2,951 candidates and CPI(M) are contesting 2,772 seats.

The ISF, which has an alliance with the CPI(M) at a neighborhood stage, has fielded round 1,000 candidates, stated Siddiqui. In Bhangar, there are near 300 seats throughout 19 panchayats, the place the ISF has fielded no less than 90 candidates. The TMC had gained all of the 19 panchayats in 2018.

Naushad Siddiqui, Bhangar MLA and ISF chief, meets candidates at Furfura Shariff. ()

“We might area candidates within the panchayats in Bhangar I. Out of 82 seats, we fielded in two. In Bhangar II, we have now fielded 170 candidates in 180 seats. Of the overall, 82 had been rejected on frivolous grounds. We have now petitioned earlier than the HC (excessive court docket) and the listening to is pending. (Chief minister) Mamata Banerjee is shaken as a result of she will be able to see her Muslim vote financial institution is slipping by way of cracks,” Siddiqui advised .

“They've slapped no less than 5 instances, together with homicide, tried homicide and instances beneath the Arms Act in opposition to me. My candidates had been intimidated, arrested in false instances. Our employee was killed and 5 had been shot. We're nonetheless struggling to register an FIR,” stated the MLA of the newly shaped get together.

Allegations of corruption

At Shanpukur gram panchayat, the place the TMC gained all 13 seats, a large part of voters joined the ISF. Muslim votes in south Bengal have at all times consolidated in favour of Mamata however in 2021, for the primary time, the ISF – a brand new get together – gained in that space. Therefore, a piece of Muslim employees and TMC supporters defected to the ISF alleging “corruption” at a panchayat stage, sanction of grants and scheme advantages.

Israil Mondal, a candidate of the ISF stated, “All of us had been Trinamool employees and we used to worship Didi. However, we had been deceived and disadvantaged by the native get together leaders and panchayat members. They used to place our particulars on the grant certificates, however the account quantity was of the panchayat member’s. We by no means acquired the federal government grant, the reduction cash after the Amphan cyclone. Any protest would earn us a prison case. That is how we joined the ISF,” he stated.

Senior TMC leaders are divided over the fees of corruption. Former MLA Sabyasachi Dutta and a senior chief within the space stated: “I used to be given the cost of the realm on June 17. I've spoken with the native residents and there are grievances. There are specific faults of a few of our native leaders and we have now recognized them; corrective measures have been taken. Minority votes have at all times been with Didi (Mamata Banerjee) and they'll once more vote for Didi. They had been aggrieved they usually virtually unwillingly voted for the ISF. They may come again to us.”

Addressing a press convention after the violence within the space, TMC state common secretary Kunal Ghosh had stated the ISF was a entrance for the BJP, Congress and CPI(M). “The ISF is actively in contact with central leaders of BJP and they're performing as a plant to create confusion,” he had stated.

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