THE country witnessed the deadliest Union Parishad (UP) elections on Thursday, the fifth phase of such election in which over 12 people including a Chairman and a member candidate and two teenage students were killed and over 200 injured, many of them shot in fierce clashes. A total of 101 persons were killed with several thousands injured so far in UP poll related violence. This time violence added the highest number of casualties when deaths were reported from Jamalpur, Chittagong, Noakhali, Comilla, Panchagarh and Narayanganj. Ruling Awami League candidates and party rebels caused mayhem in around 60 unions. Voting in 120 centers was also called off as the Election Commission (EC) claims but election violence was reported from almost all places. The unchecked mayhem on Thursday election shows it no election. Whether they belong to the ruling party or not, they are resorting to all kinds of irregularities to rig the polls, capture the centers and snatch the victory. In fact UP elections have become a dangerous game of the killers. We have condemned such violence in earlier UP polls demanding the government to create peaceful environment. The Election Commission has not the ability to maintain law and order at the polling centers. Anybody will understand the reason if the government claims that they do not hold elections for others to win. This election process has invariably become death traps to people while the political power-mongers are using it to perpetuate their claim to power. Many believe that such elections are not at all necessary as not being meaningful for the voters. The results are decided by thugs and killers. What is most shocking is inhuman role of the Chief Election Commissioner and others who will not say that elections could be held when killings cannot be stopped by law enforcers. They are showing how selfish and cruel they can be only to retain jobs for money and other benefits that go with their jobs. The Election Commission is surely the abettor of the crime, including the crime of murder. Those who blame the Election Commission for failing to maintain peace and security are forgetting the fact that without the cooperation of the government no election can be peaceful and fair. We are surprised to see they are not telling the truth. But what is true, any responsible conscientious Chief Election Commissioner would have resigned instead of justifying elections controlled by violent elements. The voters do not decide the election results.
