North Dinajpur, July 06: The upcoming West Bengal Panchayat Election in 2023 has brought a unique and sweet twist to the campaign trail. In the North Dinajpur district, a shop has introduced a local milk-based sweet called ‘sandesh’ that is imprinted with symbols of political parties.
Ghosh Sweets, located at the Rashidpur intersection of Kaliaganj, is selling this symbol-imprinted ‘ sandesh’ weighing between five to fifty grams for just Rs 10.
As the July 8 panchayat election approaches, customers can find ‘sandesh’ imprinted with symbols of prominent political parties such as the Trinamool Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), CPI(M), and Congress at Ghosh Sweets. Rajiv Ghosh, the owner of the shop, takes pride in his creative initiative.
He mentioned that during various festivals, he always ensures to offer different types of sweets at his shop. So, he didn’t want to miss out on the grand festival of democracy – the Panchayat Election. Thus, this time, he has prepared different types of ‘sandesh’ with the symbols of various political parties, including Trinamool Congress, BJP, Congress, and CPI(M).
Customers visiting the shop have shown great interest in this unique offering. A customer from Raiganj expressed their delight, considering it a novelty to have sweets prepared with the symbols of political parties in the context of the Panchayat Election.
The West Bengal Panchayat Election is expected to witness a significant turnout, with approximately 5.67 crore voters exercising their franchise. The polls aim to elect nearly 75,000 candidates who will hold positions in zilla parishads, panchayat samitis, and gram panchayats.
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In the previous rural polls held five years ago, the Trinamool Congress emerged as the dominant party, securing 90 percent of the panchayat seats and sweeping all 22 Zilla Parishads. However, those elections were marred by incidents of widespread violence and malpractice. The Opposition parties alleged that they were prevented from filing nominations in several constituencies across the state.
The introduction of these symbol-imprinted sweets adds a touch of creativity and excitement to the election season. It highlights the significance of the Panchayat Election, which empowers the citizens to choose their local representatives responsible for governing their villages and districts. While enjoying these sweets, people are reminded of the democratic process and the power of their votes in shaping the future of their communities.
The West Bengal Panchayat Election is not just about the sweets with party symbols; it signifies a vital democratic process that determines the direction of local governance. It is an opportunity for the citizens to actively participate in the decision-making process and elect representatives who will address their concerns and work towards the development of their areas.
Efforts are being made to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process, learning from the challenges faced in the previous elections. The State Election Commission is responsible for overseeing the electoral arrangements, including the allocation of polling stations, preparation of voter lists, and deployment of voting machines. Steps are being taken to prevent violence and malpractices, ensuring the participation of all political parties in a peaceful election.
As West Bengal gears up for the Panchayat Election, the focus remains on fostering a democratic environment that promotes inclusivity, transparency, and public participation. The symbol-imprinted sweets serve as a sweet reminder of the vibrant democratic spirit and the importance of every vote in shaping the future of the state. With the enthusiasm of the voters and the commitment to a fair electoral process, West Bengal is set to witness a meaningful exercise of democracy in the upcoming Panchayat Election.
