Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee has launched a fierce attack on the Election Commission of India, accusing it of facilitating "vote theft" in West Bengal. The allegations follow a contentious meeting regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state's electoral rolls.
TMC Alleges Intimidation and Electoral Malpractice
Banerjee, who is also the national general secretary of the TMC, claimed that the meeting held on January 1, 2026, was marked by aggressive behaviour from the poll panel. He specifically accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of trying to silence opposition voices and acting in a threatening manner.
"The CEC behaved aggressively, attempted to stop our party members from speaking, and even pointed fingers at me," Banerjee stated. He asserted his duty as an elected representative to protect voters, vowing not to remain silent if genuine voters were purged from the lists. The TMC leader challenged the CEC to publicly release the complete footage of the meeting and answer questions from the media.
BJP's Firm Rejection and Counter-Accusation
The Bharatiya Janata Party swiftly dismissed the TMC's charges. Party leaders turned the tables, accusing the Trinamool Congress of trying to shield illegal voters and intimidating election officials to obstruct a clean-up drive.
Defending the SIR process, the BJP stated that the revision was a necessary step to ensure the integrity of the voter lists in West Bengal. They insisted that the exercise, aimed at removing duplicate and ineligible entries, would continue as planned despite the TMC's protests.
Escalating Tensions Over Electoral Integrity
This confrontation marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political tussle over electoral preparations in West Bengal. The Special Intensive Revision has become a major flashpoint, with the ruling TMC and the principal opposition BJP offering starkly contrasting narratives.
While the TMC frames it as a targeted disenfranchisement of its supporters, the BJP portrays it as a crucial democratic exercise to eliminate fraud. The Election Commission of India now faces heightened scrutiny as it navigates these serious allegations from a major political party and its representative.
The demand for transparency, through the release of meeting footage, adds another layer to this dispute. The outcome of this clash could have substantial implications for the political climate in West Bengal ahead of future elections.
