New Delhi, February 2: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with key Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders including National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and party MP Kalyan Banerjee, held a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar at the Election Commission of India office in New Delhi on Monday. During the meeting, Mamata Banerjee, wearing a black shawl in protest, raised a pointed question: "Will the Election Commission choose the government before the election?"
In a statement to the media, the Chief Minister expressed her concerns regarding the Commission's alleged bias. "We are watching closely. You hold the power of the BJP, while we have the power of the people," she said. Mamata Banerjee accused the Election Commission of arrogance and disrespect, asserting that the TMC had boycotted the meeting due to the Commission's behavior.
"The Election Commission treated us badly. They humiliated us and spoke with a certain attitude. I am sorry we came here expecting justice, but we found none," she added. Banerjee further criticized the CEC for providing what she called "lies" in response to their concerns. She stated that the Election Commission had not addressed any of the five letters her party had submitted, describing the Commission's briefings as "junk."
The West Bengal CM also raised alarm over discrepancies in the voters' list, claiming that nearly 2 crore names had been removed. "Around 58 lakh voters were first removed, and then 1.4 crore followed. What happened to democracy? They are working under the BJP's direction," she alleged. Banerjee emphasized that this issue was part of a broader pattern of alleged electoral manipulation, citing victories in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Bihar that, according to her, were won through similar tactics.
Adding to the gravity of the allegations, Mamata Banerjee claimed that the list also contained names of people who were declared dead but were still alive. "More than 150 people, including BLOs, have died due to this. I can bring thousands of people here to Delhi and show you the reality."
She also criticized the timing of the Special Registration Drive (SIR), which aims to update the voters' list. "If you had to conduct this drive, it should have been planned properly, especially in election-bound states. You did not carry out this process in Assam, where the BJP is in power, but you targeted West Bengal and Tamil Nadu," she remarked, calling out the Commission's selective approach.
In a final scathing remark, Banerjee questioned the integrity of the CEC, accusing him of lying and showing disrespect towards the people of Bengal. "I have been involved in politics for a long time. I have never seen an Election Commissioner so arrogant and dishonest," she concluded. "Elections are a celebration of democracy, but by removing the names of 58 lakh people, you are undermining that spirit."
Mamata Banerjee's comments highlight the growing tension between the West Bengal government and the Election Commission, with her party accusing the latter of bias ahead of the upcoming elections.
