Election – Mamata Banerjee Accuses Election Commission of Bias Over Voter Roll Revision
Election – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that she was treated disrespectfully during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi, escalating tensions over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state ahead of upcoming polls.
Banerjee, who led a Trinamool Congress delegation to the Election Commission, said the interaction left her deeply dissatisfied and accused the Commission of acting with political bias. The delegation included TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, party MP Kalyan Banerjee, and several other leaders.
Dispute Over Conduct During Meeting
According to sources within the Election Commission, the meeting was conducted in a formal and courteous manner by the Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners present. However, the sources alleged that the Trinamool Congress delegation disrupted proceedings, with claims that Banerjee raised unsubstantiated allegations, behaved aggressively, and exited the meeting abruptly.
Commission sources stated that Gyanesh Kumar responded to all queries raised and reiterated that the revision process was being carried out strictly under the rule of law. Officials also warned that any attempt to interfere with election-related work or take the law into one’s own hands would invite firm action as per legal provisions.
Protest and Allegations of Political Interference
Members of the Trinamool Congress arrived wearing black shawls as a symbolic protest. Speaking to reporters later, Banerjee questioned whether the Election Commission intended to influence the outcome of the West Bengal elections. She alleged that the Commission was acting under pressure from the ruling party at the Centre and accused it of targeting opposition-ruled states.
Banerjee claimed that nearly two crore voters’ names had been either removed or marked under discrepancies in the state’s electoral rolls. She asserted that voters were being excluded without being given an opportunity to defend or verify their details, calling the process unjust and poorly planned.
Claims of Large-Scale Voter Exclusion
The Chief Minister further alleged that the voter list revision had led to widespread distress among citizens. She claimed that individuals who are alive were incorrectly listed as deceased, while others found their names missing altogether. Banerjee said she had brought several affected individuals to Delhi to highlight what she described as serious flaws in the process.
She also accused the Commission of selectively conducting the Special Intensive Revision, pointing out that similar exercises were not undertaken in certain states governed by the ruling party, while West Bengal and Tamil Nadu were subjected to extensive revisions.
Election Commission Raises Administrative Concerns
Election Commission sources, however, raised concerns over the conduct of Trinamool Congress leaders and workers. They alleged instances of abusive language directed at election officials and reported vandalism at Electoral Registration Offices in the state.
The Commission also highlighted administrative lapses by the West Bengal government, including delays in paying full honorariums to Booth Level Officers and the transfer of Electoral Roll Observers without prior consultation. Officials noted that requests to reverse some of these transfers had not yet been acted upon.
Additionally, the Commission pointed out that police complaints had not been registered against certain election officials accused of breaching data security protocols and failing to perform statutory duties.
Security Measures and Political Messaging
Heavy deployment of Delhi Police was seen outside West Bengal state guest houses in central Delhi amid the heightened political atmosphere. The Trinamool Congress later said its leaders stood with families affected by the revision process and vowed to protect the rights and dignity of voters.
Earlier in the day, Banerjee met several families at Banga Bhavan, reiterating her claim that the voter list revision was being used as a political tool to suppress voters. She also criticised the Delhi Police, alleging inadequate protection for those who had travelled to raise their concerns.
The controversy has added a new layer of tension to the already charged political environment in West Bengal as preparations for the next election gather pace.