Short thread: One very intellectually dishonest argument being advanced, that too by some academics, that multi-phase election in Bengal, as opposed to Tamil Nadu, is only to suit the BJP. At least there should be intellectual integrity to acknowledge the facts....(1/n)
1. Bengal elections have always had way more phases than Tamil Nadu including 8 phases (7, with 6th phase called 6A and 6B) last election when BJP was a non-entity, and that was the case for 2 decades now 2. The reason for that is simple - Bengal has violence in politics...(2/n)
...and we can literally see that the day of the results with visuals of BJP offices and workers homes being attacked and burnt - a common feature in that state which is why Mamta herself had sought multiple phases when she was in Opposition and Communist gundagardi....(3/n)
..so to pretend as if there is no case here and not even mentioning this fact is just dishonest. 3. Panchayat elections in Bengal were rigged and there was intimidation by the TMC and this has been acknowledged by everyone (barring TMC) (4/n)
So make the argument that 8 phases was not needed. But not by not even having the intellectual integrity to acknowledge these facts and arguments and pretending otherwise. Bad commentary; and even worse when it comes from academics in political science (5/5).
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