Lalgarh:
After Nandigram and Singur, the West Bengal government is caught in yet another confrontation -- this time in Lalgarh, a tribal-dominated area in Midnapore.
Following police beatings, villagers have banned the entry of police in the area. After several rounds of negotiations, the deadlock continues. Local leaders now say people can vote but only outside the area under blockade.
The election fever, building up in the rest of the state, has left no mark in Lalgarh. But the underlying, razor-like tension is evident in the graffiti that line every wall.
The face-off began on November 2 last year when 15 women were beaten up by a police team when they came to investigate a land mine blast targeting the chief minister. One of them lost her eye.
"When I tried to stop them from taking my husband, in the tussle, they hit me on my head with a rifle," said a woman resident.
Roads were dug up, state officials attacked repeatedly.
"We will vote but only on our own terms. We will not vote with the barrel of a gun on our head," said Chhatradhar Mahato, Committee Against Police Atrocities, Lalgarh.
Extremely backward, there are no facilities in Lalgarh. Over the years, the Maoists have increased their presence here and the adivasis have paid the price.
Despite several rounds of negotiations with the administration, including Election Commission members, anger continues to simmer.
The state government admits that there may be no breakthrough soon.
"What sort of politics is this?" asked Nirupam Sen, Industry Minister, West Bengal.
First Nandigram and now Lalgarh. It appears that the government has lost its ability to dialogue with people. As a result, all democratic processes are on hold here.