New Delhi, May 7: West Bengal’s political landscape is rife with phrases like ‘Dam Dam Dawai’ (medicinal remedy) and ‘Chomke Deoa’ (to shock or intimidate), reflecting a culture of dominance and revenge. However, for the first time, a winning party in the elections is facing significant violence.
Throughout the tenures of Congress, the Left Front, and the Trinamool Congress, political violence in Bengal has shown continuity rather than change, with the defeated parties often becoming the targets.
The term ‘Dam Dam Dawai’ is not related to medical treatment. It originated during the 1960s food movement, when West Bengal faced a severe food crisis. This period was marked by mass mobilization and violence as people demanded reforms in the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Even during the Left government, this phrase was used to address local issues. Politically, it signified ‘direct action’ or severe punishment for those questioning or opposing the government.
As ruling parties often inherited local coercive mechanisms, criminals shifted their loyalty to the prevailing power. Over time, certain structural elements remained unchanged, such as cadre-based territorial control, politicized local administration, and the use of criminal intermediaries.
Local ‘dadas’ and ‘mastans’ (goons) were employed to dominate elections, booths, and panchayats, as well as to intimidate opposition. Nicknames like ‘Hathkata’ (one-handed), ‘Galkata’ (scarred cheek), and ‘Kana’ (one-eyed) became common identifiers in this criminal-political environment.
Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury once candidly acknowledged the role of violence in politics, admitting his own involvement. He reportedly faced harassment from Leftist goons, narrowly escaping death and going underground, sometimes hiding at the home of a senior Congress leader in Kolkata known for his influence.
In the early 1970s, Congress-backed ‘youth gangs’ faced accusations of police excesses, allegedly supported by politically connected local goons. Although the term ‘scientific rigging’ was not yet mainstream, opposition parties, especially CPI(M), accused Congress governments of manipulating elections through intimidation and administrative control. This was during the Left Front era, which faced specific allegations of ‘scientific rigging’ and cadre dominance. This term referred to tampering with voter lists, booth management, pre-election and election-day intimidation, and ‘occupied’ areas where opposition parties could not campaign or voters could not exercise their rights.
The Nandigram incident particularly tarnished the Left’s reputation. Police shootings and clashes during anti-land acquisition protests became symbols of state-sponsored coercion. While CPI(M) officially claimed ideological discipline, local politics often relied on goons. Allegations of extortion and intimidation plagued ‘unions’ and ‘local committees.’ It is said that during the Trinamool Congress era, the influence of musclemen became decentralized, leading to the prevalence of ‘cut money’ politics.
When Trinamool ousted the Left in 2011, critics claimed that the coercive organizational machinery did not disappear; it merely changed hands. Even at the beginning of Trinamool’s rule, Left parties alleged widespread violence post-elections.
Anubrata Mondal, regarded as the party’s ‘uncrowned king’ in Birbhum, has made provocative statements and promoted aggressive tactics through controversial public comments. Reports indicate that other leaders and legislators have been involved in various controversies and legal issues, often linking their names to the use of muscle power in local politics.
The 2018 panchayat elections gained notoriety as many opposition candidates reportedly could not even file their nominations in certain rural parts of Bengal. During this period, several individuals lost their lives or sustained serious injuries. Apart from booth violence, allegations of extortion, syndicates, and cut money have also surfaced during Trinamool’s rule; a reality that party chief Mamata Banerjee herself has criticized.
The aftermath of the 2021 assembly elections became a topic of national discussion. BJP, Congress, and Left parties accused ruling party workers of targeting their opponents. Following a recent crushing defeat in elections, Trinamool leadership has accused BJP of intimidation and attacks. Ironically, even the victors have become victims of post-election violence. This violence includes the brutal murders of several BJP members, including the recent killing of Chandranath Rath, the personal secretary of senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.
Adhikari, who defeated Mamata Banerjee in her stronghold of Bhawanipur, stated that the new administration intends to reopen all files related to election violence to ensure justice for the victims.
Meanwhile, Trinamool spokesperson Riju Dutta claimed that after the election results on May 4, BJP leaders treated them well, while their own party members were causing distress. Others have blamed Trinamool leaders themselves for the party’s decline and the subsequent violence.
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