West Bengal is gearing up for voting in the panchayat elections on Saturday, while the monsoon season reaches its peak. The occurrence of a previous election during this rainy period seems to have slipped from memory, leaving people unsure of when it last took place. Typically, the Election Commission of India refrains from scheduling elections during the monsoon season, except in exceptional circumstances.
This year appears to be an anomaly. Compared to earlier elections, much of the cash flow in West Bengal centred on the panchayat elections has been disrupted. This vote is the only source of extra income for many, and they are blaming the Election Commission for scheduling the voting during the rainy season.
That the ruling party is now cutting back on advertising and voting expenses is evident to everyone. Modassar Hossain, the outgoing pradhan of a Trinamool Congress-run panchayat in North 24 Parganas, was frank in his admission. “We are spending much less on this vote. Our income has significantly decreased compared to before. During the campaign, we are only focusing on the basics. We will win for sure!” he said.
But how and why did this income stop? Do the panchayat members’ financial constraints have something to do with the cessation of central allocations for 100 days of work and housing projects? Hossain refused to provide a definite answer to this question.
Fourteen-year-old Faltu works as a fruit peeler at a juice shop at the Sealdah station – the rail station connecting Kolkata to North and South 24 Parganas. He lost his parents in Cyclone Aila in 2009, and has been on his own for quite a few years now. He sleeps in the juice shop. The shop owner gives him three meals and a daily wage of Rs 100 as part of his work agreement. However, ever since the date of voting was announced, Faltu has stopped working.
According to the shop owner, someone from their village approached Faltu and offered him a daily wage of Rs 300 along with a guaranteed meal. Faltu decided to take leave till July 9. His new assignment involves putting up posters, making glue, carrying campaign materials from Kolkata, distributing handbills and pamphlets, tying party flags on poles and holding festoons in front of processions. A team of 15 people like Faltu have already left for Sagar Island – the southern-most block in West Bengal.
The shop owner said, “I didn’t want him to leave because I grew fond of the boy. However, he aspires to buy a better mobile phone. I realised that he could achieve something by working for a month, and perhaps I could contribute to his aspirations.”
“Unfortunately, the leaders exploit impoverished boys and involve them in various illegal activities. If caught, these boys are usually released after a short stay in jail as they are considered minors. This pattern is prevalent across South Bengal. When confronted, the leaders argue, “Are we at fault for employing underprivileged workers?””
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The election serves as an industry that generates business and opportunities. Promod Basu, the owner of a printing press in Sreerampur, remarked, “Previously, we used to print a variety of materials, including handbill samples and government forms. However, the workload has significantly decreased now, and I’m not sure why.” Bhushan Chand Agarwal, who operates a wholesale goods store in Durgapur, supplies goods to neighbouring areas such as Bakura, Birbhum and Bardhaman. He said that the demand for goods remains steady.
On poll day, caterers struggle to manage the increased demand for food and beverages. Villagers tend to consume more compared to regular days, requiring rice, lentils, oil, salt, spices, as well as popular local delicacies like ghugni and muri (puffed rice). Nearly eight quintals of chickpeas for ghugni have been sold this time, compared to approximately 12 quintals during earlier elections. Similarly, the business of decorators has been severely affected.
Prashant Mandal from Bardhaman and Shibu Haldar from Barasat explained that elections used to bring in a few extra lakhs in income. They would have to create numerous gates, put up cut-outs of leaders’ pictures, hold meetings in various neighbourhoods, and set up stage booths. The combined cost for these activities would amount to several lakhs. Unfortunately, due to the rain, only a few tasks could be completed, and even those were ruined after getting wet. Moreover, there have been fewer public meetings for all political parties, with less visits from high-profile leaders.
Microphone businesses have also been affected by this situation. Shariful from Bharatpur in Murshidabad shared his disappointment, saying, “I expected good business during this election, so I bought all new cordless microphones. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out as I had anticipated.”
In Barabazar, Kolkata, Pramod Gupta and Sheikh Manir are renowned sellers of flags catering to all political parties. Monir mentioned that due to the rainy weather, many people preferred plastic flags. However, considering environmental pollution laws, they had to reduce the production of plastic flags this time. Cloth flags, especially those representing TMC, have been in higher demand. Retailers are purchasing them at wholesale prices from the district. On the other hand, BJP flags are sourced from different suppliers, resulting in lower sales for Pramod and Manir.
Interestingly, this time, the sale of CPI(M) flags has improved compared to the previous election, and a few Congress flags have also been sold. In Alipurduar, Dashkarma Bhandar, known for selling religious ritual supplies, has become a hub for selling flags of all political parties. The shopkeeper mentioned that flags have become a significant item for election-related festivities, and all parties are actively selling them. Only a few pieces are left in stock.
The transportation sector plays a vital role in the supplementary industry of elections. A considerable number of vehicles need to be rented for campaign and transportation purposes. Mithu Sheikh, the owner of Siuri Taxi Stand, said, “Even this time, the government has taken some cars for voting, but the demand from political parties has decreased. Each leader owns expensive cars like Scorpios, Innovas, Boleros, which are being utilised. Some drivers here have been hired to drive these cars.”
One industry that is thriving during the elections is liquor shops. It is widely known that political parties often entice workers and the less privileged by providing them with liquor and cash. An official from the Excise Department in Cooch Behar revealed that liquor sales typically surge during the Durga Puja festival, but this time, sales have broken all records due to the elections.
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The Excise Departments of West Bardhaman and North 24 Parganas report unprecedented sales of both domestic and foreign liquor throughout the entire state as a result of the elections. A substantial amount of liquor has already allegedly been distributed from village to village, not only to appease the party machinery but also to woo the voters.
A BJP leader from a tea garden said, “People are enjoying the monsoon while staying at home!”
Weapons recovered in Malda.
The business of weapon and crude bomb makers has also not experienced any major setbacks. However, the crude bomb makers are facing a unique challenge this year. A craftsman from Nanur shed light on the situation, explaining that they used to hide the bombs outside their homes or in natural surroundings such as bushes and jungles. However, the rain has caused damage, rendering them useless.
Several thousand bombs have already been recovered from Nanur, an area known for political violence. Reports of bomb blasts and subsequent recoveries are emerging from various areas within violence-prone Birbhum including Ilambazar, Bolpur, Parui, Dubrajpur, Khoyrasol and Madgram. The demand for bombs during election time extends beyond Birbhum to encompass Murshidabad, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Cooch Behar, the two Bardhamans and the two Parganas.
Political parties allocate large sums of money towards arming themselves, covering expenses ranging from raw materials for bomb-making to workers’ wages. On average, the wage paid to a worker for crafting a single bomb amounts to approximately Rs 100, excluding the cost of materials. Even in the face of financial constraints, the adversaries seem endless, creating a perceived necessity for the production of bombs. Skilled individuals proficient in crude bomb-making techniques exist throughout various districts.
As is the case with every election, the crude arm factories in Munger, Bihar, are currently bustling with activity. This year, there has been a shift in demand towards small guns, bullets and cartridges, as opposed to larger firearms. Orders for these items are fulfilled several months prior to the voting period. The demand for such weaponry has also surged across West Bengal. In Ratua, Malda, the Special Task Force (STF) conducted a search operation last Saturday night, resulting in the apprehension of two individuals. During the operation, pistols and bullets were seized.
The Sealdah Mughalsarai Express used to be the route for arms dealers. They used to cross the Ganges in Rajmahal to enter Manikchak in Malda, or from Dumka in Jharkhand to Rampurhat. These arms dealers claim to be operating based on advance payments to meet the demands of the voting market. They have been charging between Rs 18,000 and Rs 70,000 for each firearm they deliver.
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This year, professional criminals hailing from Assam have allegedly made their way to the region, leading to accusations from the TMC against the BJP for their involvement. These individuals possess extensive expertise in bomb-making and bullet-related work. Additionally, a team of mercenaries from Bangladesh has also emerged, operating independently and not aligned with any particular political party. After a fatal attack in Daribas village, their identities were publicly exposed. Although the party responsible for their appointment remains unclear, they persist in issuing threats to local residents via phone calls, cautioning them of potential dangers if they fail to adhere to their instructions while voting. Despite the presence of the Border Security Force (BSF) and local police, fear continues to grip the people.
Police examining hidden bombs in Birbhum.
Throughout the year, voters may be overlooked, but as the time for casting their votes approaches, they are revered akin to celebrities. A range of provisions and arrangements are being made to honour them, including offering financial assistance for healthcare requirements, supporting family education and distributing essential items like rice, lentils, clothing, saris and even cash.
Neither the donor political party nor the recipient is complaining. There is an unspoken understanding between both that in exchange for these offerings, one gains the opportunity to earn an income for a period of five years.
Tripti Laskar, an elderly woman who travels from Hingalganj to Sealdah to sell vegetables, remarked, “They participate in the election to exploit. We receive whatever they offer us. Who else supports the poor in this market?”
However, leaders exercise caution when speaking to the media. Jagabandhu Sen, a TMC leader from Lataguri in Jalpiguri distict, stated, “We help people; it is the party’s responsibility. But it is not a bribe. We provide help based on their needs.”
Chittaranjan Singh, a long-time BJP leader from the Ilambazar area of Birbhum, admitted, “People have various needs. We collect donations and fulfil them. Many individuals contribute!”
Apurba Chatterjee, a CPI(M) leader from the East Bardhaman district, expressed his opposition, saying, “This is deception. We will make an effort to completely discourage such practices. This is an attempt to buy people, and it is nothing short of an insult to the people!”
However, according to voting experts, political parties that do not adapt to the evolving trend of financial support in Bengal’s voting industry are likely to be left behind.
Translated from the Bengali original by Aparna Bhattacharya.
