Left calls against post-poll violence in India

In India's legislative assembly elections, a change in government has occurred in three out of four states. In West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won, ending the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee. In Tamil Nadu, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) outperformed the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). In Kerala, the Left Democratic Front (LDF), a Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led alliance, was voted out in favour of the Indian National Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). The BJP retained power in Assam for a third term.

Various areas of the state's districts, including Kolkata, have seen several incidents of beatings, unrest and arson since the day counting began.

Trinamool Congress supporters are accused of shooting a CPI(M) activist as he was returning home. The incident occurred in Domkal Municipality, Murshidabad, during post-election violence. Notably, the candidate of the CPI(M) won this Domkal seat, defeating the Trinamool Congress candidate.

The CPI(M) state secretary, Salim, shared that, immediately after the results were declared, BJP-backed troublemakers in different parts of the state started attacking the lives and livelihoods of ordinary people. BJP leaders have remained silent on the matter, only making some verbal statements about such incidents. In Murshidabad's Jiaganj, statues and portraits of revered communist leaders were attacked in the night, as were communist party organizers and offices. This included attacking and breaking a statue of Lenin. Members of the CPI(M) immediately responded by filing a police complaint. A demonstration was held, after which five people were arrested. The following morning, communists returned to the site. The statue is said to have been rebuilt on May 8th.

CPI(M) state secretary Mohammad Salim issued a statement saying that the BJP has been following Trinamool's lead. "Some former Trinamool supporters who changed their political allegiance overnight are at the forefront of this." He urged people to support those affected, to resist any attacks on democratic rights and to maintain peace and harmony in the state.

Ananta Roy, the CPI(M) Cooch Behar District Secretary, said that, like the Trinamool, the BJP is also walking on the path of terrorism. "People will realize this through experience. They will unite against the BJP and join the fight. The red flag will inevitably be at the forefront of this fight."

The left parties have called for a procession on May 8 to protest the barbaric attacks on the working class in the name of victory celebrations following the BJP's victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections, and to demand an immediate end to these attacks.