4 killed in violence during Bengal panchayat polls

FIGHTING FIT: The panchayat turf war in Singur is a bare-knuckle fight between the Trinamool and CPM.

    

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Keywords: Tata Motors, Trinamool Congress

Singur: Four persons were killed and at least 15 others injured in separate incidents of violence during the second phase of panchayat polls in West Bengal on Wednesday.

Police said three persons were killed in clashes between activists of the CPI-M and RSP, partners of the Left Front government, at Amjhara village in South 24-Paraganas district, while one person died in a separate incident in Howrah district.

The 950-acre Tata Motors' small car facility at Singur is again attracting attention. Though, the political storm has subsided, the land acquisition issue is clearly expected to influence results in the region's panchayat polls.

The Trinamool Congress, too, is excited about the results of the managing committee polls in local schools. “Out of the 81 seats in the managing committee elections of 13 local schools, the Trinamool Congress has single handedly won 71 seats,” Trinamool Congress leader Becharam Manna said.

However, the CPM isn't convinced that those results reflect on the state government's handling of the Singur issue.

“This has got nothing to do with our drive for industrialisation. It has never had any impact on elections, nor will it this time,” CPM leader Dibakar Das said.

Simply put the panchayat turf war in Singur, which is a bare-knuckle fight between the Trinamool Congress and the CPM, is all about the people's mandate for industry but certainly not at the cost of agriculture.

Meanwhile, a fresh notice from the Supreme Court to the Bengal government and Tata Motors on the eve of elections seeking clarification on land acquisition has emboldened the Opposition.

And with the backdrop of CPM's spat with central paramilitary forces in Nandigram, situation remains volatile in Bengal's first disputed farmland acquisition territory.

(With inputs from Tapas Laha and Debasish Nandy)