The gherao of seven judicial officers in Malda on April 1 by a mob marks a disturbing escalation in what has been a fevered election season in West Bengal. The Supreme Court of India condemned it as a “calculated” attempt to disrupt the adjudication process. During the era of Left Front dominance, elections were battlegrounds for “area dominance” between the Left and the TMC. A more electorate-friendly approach to the SIR by the ECI, along with effective interventions by the Court, could have avoided much of the public anger. West Bengal’s political leaders must tamp down the rhetoric, not inflame it.

Source: The Hindu April 07, 2026 04:29 UTC