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The Hindu
The Hindu
National
Shiv Sahay Singh

West Bengal panchayat poll violence | Darkest hour just before dawn say Governor Ananda Bose

The darkest hour is just before dawn, West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose said on July 10 after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah .The darkest hour is just before dawn. There will be light at the end of the tunnel. The only message I could get today is - if winter comes can spring be far behind? Good will happen in the days to come,” Mr.. Bose said.

The Governor had made a sudden visit to Delhi after there was large-scale violence in the West Bengal panchayat polls on July 8. Mr. Bose met with the Home Minister for 30 minutes at his North Block office in the national capital.

The Governor, however, did not elaborate on his comments. Before the polls, Mr. Bose had visited various areas affected by violence both in south Bengal and north Bengal.

The Governor had criticised the role of the State Election Commissioner and said that he was responsible for deaths on streets during the West Bengal polls. “I appointed you, you disappointed the people,” Mr Bose had said, referring to the role of State Election Commissioner. The Governor’s visit to places affected by violence did not go well with the Trinamool Congress leadership who criticised the Governor calling him a BJP agent.

Thirtysix persons had died in the month-long violence during West Bengal panchayat polls and 18 deaths were reported on the day of polling on July 8. The State Election Commission on Sunday said that police have confirmed 10 deaths in poll-related violence.

Re-polling for 696 polling booths was held on July 10. The counting of votes for the panchayat polls will be held on Tuesday. Elections for 63,239 seats at the gram panchayats, 9,730 panchayat samiti seats and 928 zilla parishad seats were held on July 8.

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