Naxalite menace likely to hit Bihar panchayat poll schedule

By Our Special Correspondent

PATNA, DEC. 21. The sudden spurt in naxalite violence, including intensified intra outfit clashes, is giving a new dimension to the long overdue panchayat elections, which the State Government intends to hold on a non-party basis.

The impulsive actions of the armed naxalite groups in flexing their muscles not only in their traditional belt of central Bihar but also in their areas of influence in the districts north of the Ganga are causing concern to the police, coming as they are ahead of the panchayat elections.

The task of the police has been made tough by the fact that the Stage Government has issued a directive that the SP of the respective district would be responsible for the violence likely to disturb the panchayat elections to be held early next year. The government's ruling was more in light of its apprehension over the turn of events in the first panchayat elections conducted way back in 1978, which too claimed a heavy toll of lives, the unofficial estimate being over 500 deaths.

Coming close on the division of States, the decision to hold panchayat elections have multiplied the distress of the police, with the PWG and the CPI(ML) engaged in a running battle in the neighbouring Jehanabad district which have claimed several lives on the two sides.

The clash is not an isolated case. A number of other incidents have been reported, with the naxalite outfits trying to make inroads into the plains north of the Ganga, by snatching rifles not only from the police as in Muzaffarpur district but also from the public in Darbhanga. These are being viewed as trend-setters, of course, to the utter consternation of the locals.

The decision to hold the panchayat elections seems to have compounded the problems of the State Government as it was grappling to find a solution to the problem already complicated by the division of the State. The intrusion into north Bihar complicates the situation as it brings the border with Nepal into focus.

The Jharkhand Government, which too is reeling under the naxalite menace, has agreed to cooperate with Bihar in jointly combating the threat posed by these armed groups. The seriousness of the situation could be gauged from the fact that a BDO was kidnaped from the State and done to death in Jharkhand by the MCC.

There is a discernible pattern in the recent rise in naxalite violence which the police feel was aimed at making the naxal presence felt. From the way the PWG and the CP(ML) are fighting it out in what is regarded as a war of supremacy, it is clear that the panchayat elections are crucial to the naxalite outfits as well. That the CPI(ML) had to fall back on its old strategy despite having given up underground activities tells its own tale. It is a different matter that the CPI(ML) denies being behind the killings and passes on the buck to the uprising by the people themselves.

The panchayat elections would indeed demarcate the areas of influence of the respective naxalite outfits. That explains the desperation on the part of these outfits to widen their base in a haste or hold on to their bastion. Even though the panchayat elections are to be held on a non- party basis, the preparations, in general, amply indicate that political parties would be fielding their candidates, in a guarded way.

This would be true of the naxalite outfits as well, even though some of them have been against elections and boycotting of polls to the Lok Sabha and the State Assembly. But the panchayat elections are regarded as a different cup of tea for the reason that the results would be reflecting the strength of the contending parties and forces at the very grass-root level and the outcome would have its own impact.

This will be true for the various naxalite outfits as well. Moreover, winning a panchayat seat is simpler in the sense that its jurisdiction is small and the electorate is considered more homogeneous from the affinity point of view. At least, the naxalite outfits know well whether they command a majority in a particular panchayat or not.

The general impression is that if these naxalite outfits do not boycott the panchayat elections, they would at least be backing a candidate of their choice if not fielding one of their own. In that case, the complexion of the panchayats would be quite reflective of the socio- political ambience of the State.

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