Terrorised candidate wants to pull out

Rajani Doloi, the Trinamool Congress party's candidate for Keshpur assembly constituency in Midnapore district where violence erupted on Sunday night has written to the party chief Mamata Banerjee asking to be allowed to withdraw from the contest because of the "red terror" let loose by the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s cadres.

A number of other TMC candidates from surrounding constituencies have threatened to start a "fast unto death", demanding a free and fair poll. Doloi complained that Trinamool Congress supporters were being singled out in the villages by CPM cadres and subjected to inhuman torture. Seven TMC supporters who were abducted by the CPM are yet to be traced.

He has not been allowed to open an election camp office in his constituency. "Under such circumstances, if I still contest the elections, my party supporters would be wiped out of Keshpur. To ensure their safety and security I would like to withdraw from the contest," he wrote to his party chief.

Ramchandra Mondal, a sitting Left Front MLA who switched camp and joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) before the election, was given the TMC nomination from Khejuri in Midnapore district. Mondal, like Doloi, complained about the CPM's terror and has decided to go in for an indefinite sit-in demonstration outside the office of the sub-divisional officer, Contai.

Similar complaints poured in from Moyna, Garbeta East, Pingla, Sabong and Patashpur, all in Midnapore district. That the situation was hotting up with just seven days left for the West Bengal state assembly polls became evident from other sporadic incidents of clash between rival groups.

In Bhatpara in North 24-Parganas, a CPM party office was bombed last night in which three persons were injured. In Amta, Udaynarayanpur in Howrah district, the CPM and TMC workers fought a pitched battle over taking out an election procession. About 20 CPM supporters sustained minor injuries.

The already surcharged atmosphere took a different dimension with Banerjee repeatedly warning about a possible attack on her by CPM goons. Her party leaders have submitted a list of places where she faced resistance in holding election rallies. In protest, last week she refused to take any Z-plus security and Black Cat commandos. She surrendered the bullet proof car the government had provided her.

The state government quickly referred the matter to the Election Commission who in turn insisted that security men in plain clothes must follow wherever she goes. A state government official said " we have arranged for 'White Cat' commandos for her now," implying security personnel in mufti.