Scientific rigging is a term referring to a number of malpractices used by political parties to win elections in West Bengal state in India.[1][2] These malpractices may include booth capturing, party cadres impersonating genuine voters, polling agents beaten up threatening voters not to vote for the opposition, etc.[2] These malpractices are generally achieved through blatant use of government power and organization of political parties. The term was used by the opposition to the Left Front government in West Bengal.[3]
To prevent scientific rigging the Election Commission of India takes various extremely stringent norms, including a number of check lists, additional visits by officials and even scrutinizing the training of block-level officers.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "The maths & chemistry of scientific rigging". Hindustan Times. 8 April 2004. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ a b Begg, Yusuf (17 May 2019). "How to rig elections, Bengal style". India Today. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ Chatterjee, Partha (1997). "Discipline and Development". The present history of West Bengal : essays in political criticism. Delhi; New York: Oxford University Press. p. 141. ISBN 0-19-563945-6. OCLC 36649040.
Their opponents call it a machine for 'scientific rigging'. But there is no doubt that the unparalleled success of the Left Front in every election in West Bengal since 1977 has a great deal to do with the elaborateness, intricacy and discipline of the CPI(M)'s organization in its campaign to mobilize votes.
- ^ "To do away with 'scientific rigging', Election Commission introduces strict norms in West Bengal". The Indian Express. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2021.