Opposition parties (CPI-M, BJP and Congress) on Friday said that they will fight the panchayat polls to the finish even if Trinamool Congress (TMC) resorts to violence and terror.

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said that if the panchayat election is held peacefully then BJP will ensure its victory. “TMC will unleash violence during the panchayat polls as they know the party will lose. So, the BJP has alerted all its party workers to protect booths,” he said.

Mr Ghosh also said that TMC has lost its base in the state so party supremo Mamata Banerjee asked party leaders to gain victory in the panchayat polls by any means. “Our party will take proper steps to restore democracy in the state. Our party workers are working hard to ensure that people can exercise their franchise in the upcoming election. We asked our party workers to stand beside the people,” the BJP state president said.

Mr Ghosh also indicated that the party workers would resist any attempt of “TMC backed goons” to unleash violence against the saffron brigade workers.

“BJP workers hit back the TMC sponsored goons during the submission of nomination papers. Our workers won’t keep silent if the TMC backed goons launch further attacks on general voters and BJP workers during the election process,” he said.

CPI-M state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra said that the people will protect the booths and prevent rigging if the police is biased and found to be working for TMC.

He said that TMC chief Mamata Banerjee mounted pressure on police and State Election Commission (SEC) in a bid to ensure the party’s victory. “But people will give actual reply against TMC’s conspiracy,” he said.

Mr Mishra said that people should fight against both TMC and BJP in the state as both are two sides of the same coin. “TMC and BJP, both are enemies of the people and caused religious polarisation in the state by destroying secular atmosphere. Despite being involved in the several scams like multi-crore ponzi scheme run by Saradha Group and Narada sting operation, chief minister is set free. It is simply possible because of the mercy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Miss Banerjee,” said Mr Mishra.

Meanwhile, leader of the Opposition in state Assembly Abdul Mannan said on Friday that while the reign of terror unleashed by the ruling party long before the panchayat election in the state does not leave a level playing field for the Congress, it will contest the election braving violence on Monday.

Preventing candidates of our party from filing nominations is a pointer to the fact that TMC leadership is suffering from a crisis of confidence, he felt. If the language in which Trinamul leaders, especially chief minister Mamata Banerjee, is criticising the Opposition is anything to go by, it seems that the entire party has given up all its democratic principles, Mr Mannan said. After having been in the Oppostion for more than a decade, it is strange on the part of TMC to seek a panchayat system in which the Opposition does not exist, he said.