Election Commission Stands Firm on Delegation Size
The Election Commission of India has firmly rejected the Trinamool Congress's request to send a 10-member delegation for discussions regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. Instead, the poll body has authorized only a five-member team for the meeting scheduled with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi.
The confrontation emerged when the TMC sought an appointment with the Election Commission to address concerns about the electoral roll revision process in West Bengal. In an official communication to the party, the EC stated: "The Commission always welcomes regular interaction with the political parties for a constructive dialogue... Accordingly, the Commission has considered the party's request and decided to give an appointment to the delegation of TMC, comprising an authorised representative of the party along with four other party members" for the November 28 meeting at Nirvachan Sadan.
Abhishek Banerjee's Strong Reaction
Trinamool Congress general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee responded sharply to the Election Commission's decision, challenging the poll panel to conduct the meeting openly and telecast it live. Considered the number two in the party hierarchy, Banerjee took to social media platform X to express his discontent.
"Time has been sought for a delegation of 10 MPs. They are representatives ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, unlike the CEC and ECs, who are hand-picked by the Government of India", Banerjee asserted in his post. He further accused the Election Commission of maintaining a "manufactured facade" of transparency through selective leaks to the media.
The TMC leader directly challenged the Election Commission's commitment to transparency, asking: "If the @ECISVEEP is genuinely transparent, why is it scared to face just 10 MPs? Hold the meeting openly. TELECAST IT LIVE and answer the five straightforward, legitimate questions that the AITC will place before you."
Delegation Composition and Background Issues
The TMC's original delegation list submitted to the Election Commission on Tuesday included ten prominent leaders:
- Lok Sabha MPs: Satabdi Roy, Kalyan Banerjee, Pratima Mondal, Sajda Ahmed, and Mahua Moitra
- Rajya Sabha MPs: Dola Sen, Mamata Thakur, Saket Gokhale, and Prakash Chik Barik
- Derek O'Brien, the leader of the TMC in the Rajya Sabha
A senior TMC leader firmly stated that the party would not accept the EC's limitation on delegation size, declaring "There is no way we are going to agree to the limit on the number of members in the delegation imposed by the EC. A 10-member delegation would go for the meeting."
This development follows West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recent letter to CEC Kumar demanding "immediate intervention" in two specific matters concerning the electoral process. The issues raised include the state chief electoral officer's directive preventing the engagement of contractual data-entry operators and Bangla Sahayata Kendra staff for SIR or other poll-related work, along with the EC's proposal to establish polling booths inside private residential complexes.
The scheduled November 28 meeting promises to be a significant confrontation between the Election Commission and one of West Bengal's major political parties, with transparency and electoral integrity at the center of the debate.
