State Elections and Commies

When I had first started my blog, a primary topic of many of my posts was the upcoming Assembly elections in 5 states, particularly in the red bastion of West Bengal. I had written about the exemplary work done by Shri K.J Rao, the hero of Bihar, and the tough talking he had done to rid the state of its old and fudged voter records.

His actions rubbed the CPI (M) the wrong way, and of course they would've, he was trying to undo all the hard work the communists had put into making West Bengal their fiefdom. The one news that i didnt report here when it happened was that KJ Rao was quietly removed from his post. Did I say removed? No, I meant he had resigned because of family commitments, or whatever, but the fact is that he was made to leave, and I have no doubt the red bastards at the center had something to do with it. Think about it, if he had his own problems, why would he join the Delhi Government in their demolition drive right away?

And from the news reports that I hear, this Assembly elections is going to be another sweep for the red traitors. Which sucks, but who is there to stand up against the red party? Mamata Bannerjee? Nah, its hard to take her seriously. The time when she was a cabinet minister in the NDA Government, all she did was create tantrums and try to gain political mileage. As for the NDA itself, BJP in particular, do they even exist in West Bengal?

This is what Advani has to say after the first phase. He has made two trips there already, but it must be hard to focus, you know, when you have to spend time on absolute farces such as the "Bharat Surakha Yatra" and other things.

CPI(M) 'upset' over first phase of polls in WB

In a veiled criticism, senior BJP leader LK Advani on Tuesday claimed the CPI(M) is reportedly 'upset' over the polling percentage recorded during the first phase of assembly elections in West Bengal as "it was likely to affect its winning prospects". "The Marxist party is reportedly upset that only 70 per cent of the electorate has cast its vote, while it used to be 80 to 85 per cent in the previous elections".

"Booth capturing and other illegal practices had helped the CPI(M) to remain in power in Bengal for years like in Bihar where the Laloo-led RJD unleashed a reign of terror during elections," he alleged adding "we were still able to oust the RJD in Bihar by convincing the people of the malpractices engaged by the RJD there".
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But it seems that the first phase vindicated the Election Commission, and the first phase went by without a single life being lost or shot being fired. Apparently the (Morons) had called for a boycott in three districts of the state against the EC's poll directives, and the funny thing is that people still showed up, and voted for the left! Oh wait, that wasnt the CPI themselves, it was their sidekicks, the Maoists who had called for the boycott. Ah, to wage a war against the state and support its Government at the same time! Only in India.

70% say no to boycott

The Election Commission had the last laugh today. Despite the CPI(M)’s vocal, no-holds-barred criticism, all directives of the Commission were implemented effectively in the three districts of Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore that went to polls in the first phase of the Assembly elections today. And at the end of the day it looked like ‘Advantage Left Front’.

The outcome of an elaborate, meticulous and secured polling environment was there for everyone to see as Phase One of the Assembly polls went off without a hitch. There was heavy turnout of voters since early morning, and with Central Paramilitary Force personnel positioned from 5 am, none was allowed to enter the 200-metre radius of the polling booths without electronic photo identity cards (EPICs).

There was a reorganisation in the booths in keeping with the EC orders and an extra person was included in the poll party, which otherwise comprised four people. The fifth person was assigned the task of checking EPICs.

With the Election Commission having pushed the state government to ensure all voters carried EPICs, the photo identity cards, incidentally, were the key in maintaining discipline today. The state has already reached 96 per cent EPIC target, while the remaining 4 per cent voters have been given slips by the booth officer.

Meanwhile, the first phase saw several firsts. For the first time, no cadres were seen wearing party badges, which had been a general feature in the past elections. And, also for the first time, there was no commotion by political parties around the polling booths. Only one polling agent of each political party was allowed to enter the booths at a time.
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I recently read an article in The Pioneer by Swapan Dasgupta about the CPI trying to influence national politics in a greater degree than their House strength actually allows them. We have seen many cases of this, right from the pigheaded insistance that the Common Minimum Programme is the only way to go forward, that the country's main airports shouldnt be privatized, and all the other things in between. I will try to put it in another post, because as much as I don't like them, I am afraid there is very little I know of their actual allegiances and all the little conspiracies they indulge in.

meanwhile, they seem set to get back to power again. For people who are slightly aware of the American political scene, in the most basic form, this situation is very similar to the scattered Democrats who couldnt put up a joint front against George W Bush in the 2004 Presidential elections.

Exit polls indicate Left sweep in first phase

The Left Front is all set to sweep the first phase of the polls held on Monday for 45 seats in three districts of West Bengal, according to the exit polls of three 24-hour regional news channels.

Elections were held for three districts — Paschim Medinipur, Purulia and Bankura — where the front was expected to do exceedingly well in a repeat of its show in the past Assembly elections.