NEW DELHI: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday launched a sharp attack on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, calling him arrogant and rude, and alleging that he was acting as an “agent of the BJP” at the behest of the ruling party.
The Election Commission of India (ECI), however, claimed that Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs and leaders in the state were using abusive language against the CEC.
Speaking to mediapersons after meeting Kumar over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, Banerjee said she boycotted the meeting due to what she described as the CEC’s arrogant behaviour, alleging that he did not respond to any of their queries.
“So many people have died (referring to deaths and alleged suicides by BLOs during the SIR). Who is responsible? The EC is responsible. They are working at the BJP’s behest. They behaved very badly with us. I said we came here seeking justice, but we did not get it, and you are lying. He is a great liar,” she said.
Asked whether she would boycott the upcoming Assembly elections, Banerjee said she would never make that mistake and would instead fight the BJP on the ground and win.
“We said we will fight it on the ground. You have the power of the BJP; we have the power of the people. We boycotted the meeting and walked out. They have insulted and humiliated us. I have not seen this kind of Election Commission; they are very arrogant. He speaks as if he is a zamindar and we are servants,” she alleged.
Banerjee met the CEC and fellow Election Commissioners wearing a black shawl as a mark of protest. Several TMC leaders and some families affected by the SIR were also present at the meeting.
“For the past six months, our government has been virtually captured and we are not being allowed to work. It feels like a state under President’s Rule. The CEC is a threat to democracy and the nation. He listens to no one and only follows BJP orders,” she alleged.
The TMC chief claimed that the names of around two crore voters had been removed from the state’s electoral rolls during the ongoing SIR, and alleged that BJP workers from BJP-ruled states were being brought in as observers in West Bengal.
“Will the EC choose a government before the Assembly elections, or will the people be allowed to choose a government of their choice?” she asked.
Banerjee further alleged that names of people from other states, including Haryana, had been added to West Bengal’s voters’ list.
Responding to the allegations, EC sources said the TMC delegation led by the Chief Minister met the commission and raised certain issues related to the ongoing SIR in West Bengal.
The CEC, they said, responded to the queries and explained that the rule of law would prevail, and that anyone taking the law into their own hands would be dealt with strictly under the provisions of law and the powers vested in the Commission.
Poll body sources also claimed that TMC MLAs were openly using abusive and threatening language against the EC, particularly the CEC, and were threatening election officials in the state.
They further alleged incidents of vandalisation of the offices of Election Registration Officers (EROs), Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) and Block Development Officers (BDOs) by TMC workers.
EC officials said no pressure, obstruction or interference of any kind should be exerted on officers engaged in SIR-related work.