PC signals May elections

New Delhi, Jan. 4: P. Chidambaram today said Bengal would get “the best gift” of elections in May this year, the first unqualified hint of a timeframe for what is expected to be watershed elections in the state.

“The people of West Bengal are getting the best New Year gift — elections in May 2011. We will ensure that the elections are held peacefully,” the Union home minister said in reply to a question.

Chidambaram’s seemingly incidental reference is more in line with the normal schedule for the elections, rather than an earlier date preferred by the Trinamool Congress.

But Mamata Banerjee said Chidambaram was right in stating that the Assembly elections would be held in May, implying that she was reconciled to polls at the scheduled time.

“Whatever Chidambaram has said is right. Where is the time now for the polls to be advanced? They will be held along with five other states,” Mamata declared before leaving for a meeting with the Prime Minister and the finance minister for pre-budget discussions.

Trinamool had been lobbying the Centre for early polls, saying that the state would witness an upsurge in political violence in the run-up. “A lot of innocent lives will be saved if the polls are advanced,” a Trinamool leader had said after a meeting with the Prime Minister recently.

Given a choice, Trinamool would have liked the polls in late February before the examination season starts.

However, since the Election Commission team that has visited Kerala and Tamil Nadu has not been able to visit Bengal, chances of February polls have receded.

The team will visit Kolkata next week. “Do not read too much into the statement (by Chidambaram). After the team visits, it will be decided — new government formation is due in June and elections can’t be held in March because of exams,” a government source said.

In Kolkata, CPI(M) state secretariat member Mohammad Salim said: “Chidambaram’s announcement is nothing new or surprising for us. We never expected the elections to be advanced. Our party wants the elections to be held on schedule.”

Chidambaram said he was “absolutely confident” about holding peaceful elections, despite the surge in political violence in Bengal. The Centre has already pegged the deployment of more than 50,000 security personnel staggered over a period of time.

The home minister said the Centre would central forces to all states according to the requirements of the Election Commission.

After peace, it was time for the “letter war” with chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. “I do not do anything (write letters) under political pressure. I even do not answer your questions under political pressure,” Chidambaram told reporters.

The home minister had earlier told Bhattacharjee that the word 'harmad' was used extensively in the media and if the chief minister suggested an alternative, he would use that.

Asked about the mismatch between figures provided by him and Bhattacharjee on the number of political workers killed in Bengal, Chidambaram said his reports as well as sources were “credible”.