Incumbent MP and Trinamul Congress Lok Sabha candidate Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar sought “apology with folded hands” for the events on the day of the panchayat election in New Town and sought to distance herself from the episode. She was addressing a gathering at the club house of NBCC Vibgyor Towers in CE Block, where residents of several adjoining blocks and housing estates of Action Area I had been invited on Sunday.
The three-time MP is seeking re-election from the Barasat seat, under which New Town and Salt Lake fall.
On the day of the panchayat poll, July 8, the streets leading to the polling booths in New Town had been taken over by hundreds of outsiders who put up barricades with vote-boycott banners and barred voters from proceeding towards the booths, leading to widespread outrage among residents of the township.
“Panchayat nirbachone jodi apnara dukkho peye thaken tar jonyo ami korojorey kshoma chaichhi (If you are upset at what happened at the panchayat polls I am seeking apology with folded hands),” Ghosh Dastidar said, adding that she was not involved in the matter and heard about it later.
She iterated that she was ashamed (“Ami tar jonyo lojjito”) and promised that there would be no repeat of such incidents, citing her educational background. “My whole family — I, my husband, my two sons — have studied in England. It is impossible and sad for a person like me to accept that people’s personal freedom had been infringed. This will not happen again,” she said.
At least three residents, declaring themselves to be Trinamul sympathisers, brought up memories of the panchayat election at the open mic session after the MP left.
“I have faced CPM atrocities too. But on that day, at the age of 62, I was subjected to an obscene sight when I tried to reach the polling booth at 7am,” said a resident of BC Block, who claimed he could vote later at 3pm. A party supporter from CC Block complained of having to suffer barbs and insults from neighbours for the day’s events. Another elderly supporter spoke of the barricades that stopped many like him from voting in the morning. “But I could vote later and gave a signed declaration at the police station that I did.”
Local MLA Tapash Chatterjee showed far less remorse in his reference to the panchayat election, dismissing the day’s events as “sporadic incidents”. “Ekta-duto vote hoyto edik odik hoyechhe (A vote or two might have gone this way or that),” he said, refusing to accept charges of largescale electoral malpractice brought by the Opposition. “Could you not vote in 2019 and 2021? I was with the CPM before. I know how polling would be conducted in places like Mahisbathan. Those who started this should not complain now,” he said, also blaming the media for highlighting “only negative points”. “Je bhabei hok, jara jitechhe tara kintu manusher songe jogajog rakhchhe (By whatever means they might have won, the elected candidates are staying in touch with people),” he claimed, certifying the Trinamul representatives at the Jyangra Hatiara-2 gram panchayat who now represent New Town by dint of their victory.
Chatterjee also took potshots at the local CPM leadership. “(Housing minister in the Left Front government who steered the birth of New Town) Gautam Deb’s son (CPM leader Saptarshi Deb, a resident of BF Block) and his people are making it appear as if entire New Town could not vote. There could have been some mistakes. Of course, if something did happen I will take responsibility as a leader. But instead of highlighting sporadic incidents, one has to look at the picture across the country. This vote is against the deprivation of Bengal and against fascism,” he said.
He criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advocacy of “One Nation. One Election”, pointing to the difference in issues at stake at national, state and local body elections. He sought to sit with residents of New Town and discuss their problems after the polls.
Food and supplies minister Rathin Ghosh was more apologetic in his reference to the panchayat election. “Kichhu ghotona ghotechhe. Kintu amra sobai ei rokom vote-ey biswas kori na (Some incidents took place. But all of us do not believe in such voting),” said the former chairman of Madhyamgram Municipality. “Voting is your democratic right. If there has been a lapse, we seek your forgiveness. Do not think this is the party’s doing. The party does not approve of this,” the minister said.
Residents raised several local issues, ranging from mosquitoes to high and endess of NKDA officials and the need for a government school, hospital and ambulance. The speakers seemed unaware of the ground reality in New Town but promised to take note and act on the suggestions.