The Governor described the panchayat polls as a "fight between ballots and bullets" (File)
Urging the people of rural Bengal to exercise their franchise in the panchayat elections without fail, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Friday said he would be on the streets along with his team during polling.
The governor described Saturday's panchayat polls as a "fight between ballots and bullets" and said that he would monitor the situation throughout the state and take corrective measures.
"(Tomorrow) I will be on the road. I will be with my team. For the last few days, the Raj Bhavan was a Mobile Raj Bhavan tomorrow before the voting begins, I will be on the roads. After the voting ends, I will go back. In between, I will also visit the Peace Room to see what is happening throughout the state and to take corrective measures to the extent I am entitled to do so," Mr Bose told reporters in Berhampore.
Talking about his role on the polling day, Mr Bose said that he would ensure that the interests of the public are protected and that Constitution is followed by everyone.
"I have a role to see that constitutional colleagues get the facilitative environment to exercise their powers. I am here to see that the interests of the public are protected. That is what I do before the election, during the election and after the election," he said.
Mr Bose urged the people to vote on Saturday and said that if they exercise their franchise then that would act as an umbrella for the future.
"What is important is tomorrow's election. I think the permanent solution to all the problems will come tomorrow. That black ink on the index finger is the strength of the common man. All voters will go to the polling booth and express their voting rights according to their conscience. Take an umbrella if it is raining, but go to vote. Your vote will be your umbrella in the future. This is a fight between ballot and bullet," he added.
On the ruling Trinamool Congress's allegation that he is running around the state to gain publicity, the Governor said, "Yes, I agree with them. I am doing this for publicity, publicity and publicity alone. To publicise the right of the common man, sanctity of the Constitution, to publicise that human right which is supported by the common man's will cannot be suppressed by any political propaganda. I will seek publicity till the end to popularise what is democracy."
Around 5.67 crore voters are likely to exercise their franchise to choose representatives for nearly 928 seats across 22 zila parishads, 9,730 panchayat samitis, and 63,229 gram panchayats seats on Saturday.
Mr Bose, who reached Murshidabad district on Friday morning, paid a visit to the dead Congress worker's house who was killed during a clash between two groups late Thursday night.
He assured the victim's family of all sorts of assistance.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)