In Asansol Lok Sabha constituency, fear is a way of life

In Asansol Lok Sabha constituency, fear is a way of life
BJP supporters raise slogans during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election campaign rally in support of party candidate from Asansol constituency Babul Supriyo for the Lok Sabha elections, in Asansol. Photo: PTI

Fear is the staple diet of people of Asansol Lok Sabha constituency, where polling is now on.

Residents of Asansol Lok Sabha constituency are petrified to be identified as a sympathiser of any political party.

Just two hours after polling began on Monday, reports of attacks on the convoy of BJP candidate emerged.

Residents are wary of discussing their political preference openly in Asansol, a key coal-trading centre in Bengal.

In Asansol Lok Sabha constituency, fear is a way of life
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee speaks with party candidate from Asansol seat Moonmoon Sen during an election rally for Lok Sabha polls, in Asansol. Photo: PTI

Sporadic violence have been reported in Asansol in the run-up to polls.

On April 15, violence erupted during Ram Navami processions. Stones were pelted, bombs were hurled and vehicles and shops were set ablaze.

Poll violence is nothing new in West Bengal, where local body polls in May 2018 were also soaked in blood.

“I go and sit in the front in every political meeting and ensure the local guy sees me. Then I leave. There is violence almost every day and harassment by party workers, especially from the ruling Trinamool Congress,” a resident of Baraboni said requesting anonymity.

Several others who gathered there also backed his charge.

In Asansol Lok Sabha constituency, fear is a way of life
Sitting MP and BJP candidate Babul Supriyo

They too follow the same 'protocol' and withdraw from political meetings at the opportune moment.

“The city is tense; there is no doubt about it. Every night there are raids, our workers are being picked up by police, and their homes are being damaged. It is creating havoc. TMC (or Trinamool Congress) is using the state machinery to do this,” alleged sitting MP and BJP candidate Babul Supriyo who is contesting against TMC candidate Moon Moon Sen, a popular yesteryear actress, among others.

Both Supriyo, who is also a Union Minister of State, and Gourango Chatterjee, the CPI(M) candidate, made sure they spoke about the presence of central forces during their campaign meetings.

They assured people it was safe to come out and vote.

TMC leader and state Law Minister Molay Ghatak rubbished the allegations against the state government, saying the people of Asansol know who “were creating the ‘tension’ in the city”.

“Asansol is calm, the chief minister is trying her best to ensure free and fair polls. People know that. The issue is that since no party, except the TMC, has any political existence here, the Congress, the Left and the BJP have come together,” said Ghatak.

However, Ghatak had no answer when he was asked about the unprecedented presence of central forces in the state, an indication of the failure of the Trinamool government to ensure security during polls.

Not far from BJP candidate Supriyo’s residence at Mohishila in the heart of the city, a group of men were whispering among themselves at a tea-stall.

“Politics here can no longer be discussed in public. Who knows who is listening. Gone are the times when one could have animated debates over cups of tea at tea- stalls. I am an old man and I have been charged with an arms case. Ironically, I don't even know how to hold a gun,” said Parijaat Ghosh, 76, a CPM worker.

Lok Sabha Elections 2019 | West Bengal

“These TMC workers are goons and they are doing everything that they can to intimidate voters. Even the opposition candidates are being beaten up badly recently and are left bleeding on the street,” Mokhtar Fariduallah of Sugam Park locality said.

A lawyer, who refused to divulge his political preference or his name, said no party was innocent as far as violence was concerned.

“Here, TMC is in power, so they have more clout, more people and the BJP is on the back foot. However, I am sure where the BJP is in power, they would also exercise it (muscle power).

Asansol is one of the two seats the BJP had won in West Bengal 2014. It has perhaps seen the most number of violent incidents involving activists of the BJP and Trinamool.

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