The BJP has called a 12-hour Bengal bandh tomorrow from 6 a.m. alleging unprecedented violence by alleged Trinamul Congress goons to prevent voters and booth capturing and rigging during the elections held today in 108 municipalities.

BJP state president and MP Sukanta Majumder said democracy has been murdered and vote process was a total farce. All the violence is state and SEC-sponsored, he said. Senior leader of the state BJP and the party’s former national general secretary Rahul Sinha said that the State Election Commission (SEC), its officials, police and Trinamul Congress goons today snatched the rights of people to exercise their franchise by making the poll process a complete mockery.

“From last seven days, we have seen the serial attacks by TMC goons on Opposition parties’ candidates and agents. We understand well what will happen today without deployment of Central forces. Now our apprehension proved right,” he said.

Mr Sinha said SEC today should have stopped the election when the situation went out of control. “Huge violence, attacks on women attacks on real voters across the day in Bengal could have been prevented by stopping the civic poll. All the poll observers, coobservers, booth observers, micro observers did not respond to a single incident of violence inside booth during poll. They were mute spectators. Democracy has been trampled today completely. SEC must hold repoll by cancelling today’s poll and deploying Central forces,” said Sinha.

BJP West Bengal co observer and national IT cell head Amit Malviya said political violence gripped Bengal today. “UP is polling today and so is Bengal, to elect municipal councillors. But unprecedented political violence has gripped Bengal. Last night, TMC goons attacked Krishna Bhattacharya, BJP’s former state Vice President, contesting from Konnagar Ward 10, against outgoing TMC chairman,” he tweeted.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikary posted tweets highlighting incidents of violence including attacks on women. “Systematic loot of Votes across WB. @WBPolice has done a great job of: a) organising the TMC goons b) instructing them when & how to capture booths c) scaring away the voters d) stifling Opposition’s voice e) using force to disperse any resistance made by the opposition,” he tweeted.

Mr Adhikary also again tweeted by posting a video showing a woman BJP candidate being attacked. “Democracy has been buried in Bengal by @MamataOfficial. This election is a farce. Look at how the @BJP4Bengal candidate who was molested by @AITCofficial goons when she protested the rigging of votes, is being detained by Police,” he tweeted.

State administration on bandh: State government has clarified that government and private establishments, schools and colleges, shops, markets, industrial establishments, transport and all sectors will remain open and function normally tomorrow.

A call has been given by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a 12 hours’ bandh on 28 February across the state from 6 am to 6 pm. According to a notice issued by the state information and cultural affairs department this evening, the government stated that it is opposed to strikes and will ensure that all establishments function smoothly.

“As a matter of principle, the State Government is opposed to Strikes or Bandhs, as it disrupts normal life and causes inconvenience to the people and affects their livelihood. In view of the above, the State Government has decided that government and private establishments, schools and colleges, shops, markets, industrial establishments, transport etc will remain open and function normally,” the notice read.

“State Government will take all necessary measures to ensure that all establishments and services function smoothly and that there is no disruption. Any attempt towards forcible closure or disruption of any Central/ State Govt offices, private establishments, industrial establishments , markets, shops ,transport and normal life etc shall be dealt strictly and firmly,” the notice further stated. The government has clarified that no leaves would be granted for absence from work tomorrow.

“All State Government offices including Panchayati Raj institutions, Municipal Bodies, Educational Institutions and all those provided with Grants in Aid by the State Government shall remain open. All the employees should report for duty and no leave would be granted to any employee on the date of bandh. Absence on the Bandh day will be treated as ‘dies non’ and no salary will be admissible,” it added.