The West Bengal panchayat elections witnessed a disturbing wave of violence, leaving 36 people dead and spreading across several districts for almost a month. However, the West Bengal State Election Commission failed to meet expectations. The violence in the panchayat elections was exacerbated by infighting within the ruling Trinamool Congress party. The recent violence and chaos during the West Bengal panchayat elections should serve as a wake-up call for the state’s political class. The inherent structural issues in grassroots politics in West Bengal must also be addressed to prevent future tragic incidents.

Source: The Hindu July 12, 2023 11:35 UTC