Kolkata: The politics of violence and individualism have taken forefront in West Bengal rendering the decisive election an issueless exercise in a state that sends 42 parliamentarians to the Lok Sabha.

According to state Election Commission of India (EC) officials, three people have lost their lives and 554 incidents of violence related to poll campaigning and political rivalry has been registered in the state since March 5, the day when elections were announced.

The state’s chief electoral officer (CEO) Sunil Gupta, said 427 people were injured in clashes related to political rivalry and property worth Rs100,000 (Dh6,000) was damaged. As much as 95kg of explosives, 2,289 cartridges, 839 illegal arms and 4,177 bombs have been seized in the state so far.

“Two illicit arms manufacturing centres were raided and the manufacturing equipment has been seized,” Gupta said.

Total unaccounted cash seized in a month stands at Rs45 million while Rs13.9 million worth of valuables, including gold, were confiscated during the period.

Liquor valued at Rs16.5 million has also been recovered by authorities.

However, compared to the village council elections, where 15 people had lost their lives and thousands were injured, the figure is much less thanks to the strict measures adopted by the EC, based on past trends in the state.

EC officials were also attacked as one TMC legislator threatened to behead a district level EC official for removing a picture of chief minister Mamata Banerjee. In another incident, Anubrata Mondal, a TMC district leader allegedly threatened to kill his opponents.

Another legislator asked his supporters to ensure that not a single vote is cast against them.

While its candidate from Ghatal actor Dev compared election frenzy to that of rape, and its senior party leader Sougata Roy, asking supporters to rig the polls.

TMC leaders have featured prominently among those accused of violating the election code of conduct, other political parties are equally at fault.

Renowned magician and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate P.C. Sorcar (junior) recently described Banerjee as deranged, while Communist leader Anisur Rahman termed the TMC leader in foul language not suitable to be published in a family newspaper.

“If you look at the candidate selection of the TMC and BJP in the state, you will realise that they are not serious about democracy and are actually trying to sideline the key issues that should take centre stage in such elections,” says political analyst Kachan Dey.

TMC has fielded a host of musicians, actors, sports person and even theatre personalities, who have very little understanding of the whole parliamentary system or how it functions, critics say.

The same goes for the BJP, which also has fielded numerous singers, including Bappi Lahiri, who is now contesting from the constituency of Sreerampore.

“No one is taking any of the critical issues that plague the country and the state. Whether it’s the ongoing financial crisis in the state or about women safety or the country’s economy that is slugging since the last three years. It shows the parochial view that political outfits take to suppress the issues since they have little to offer,” added Dey.