8th May, 2021 11:28:25
In India, known as world’s largest democracy, election of different sorts are very common and are held throughout the year. The country comprises of 28 states and 8 centrally administered territories. Each state has an assembly and every five years the voters elect assembly (Bidhan Sabha) members. There are also numerous local body elections held throughout the year. Few days back the State Assembly elections of Paschimbanga were held and the results were declared on 2nd May. The election results confirmed a conclusive win for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, the incumbent Chief Minister of the State. She has already taken oath of office as the Chief Minister of the State for the third time though she lost in the election in her constituency Nandigram. As per the Indian Constitution, Mamata Banarjee will have to be elected in a bye election within 180 days. That should not be a problem for her. Paschimbanga, popularly known as West Bengal is an adjacent State of Bangladesh and once was part of greater Bengal whose borders stretched up to Bihar and Orissa. The division of Bengal into West Bengal and East Bengal in 1947 was an irrevocable tragedy of history. Though politicians like to talk about the partition of India, in reality India was not partioned, it was Bengal and Punjab that were partioned in 1947. Till the arrival of the British, Bengal was the richest province of India. Whatever happens in Paschimbanga the people of Bangladesh take an interest as for centuries the people of undivided Bengal shares many things in common, from history and heritage to culture and language. In our Liberation War all neighbouring States of India played a very significant role in helping millions of refugees fleeing their homes. But the biggest help perhaps came from the people of Paschimbanga who provided all sorts of help for nine months for approximately ten million refugees from Bangladesh. So whatever happens in Paschimbanga stirs a special interest amongst the people and the media of Bangladesh. The recent election was no exception.