The Election Commission has issued a sharp rebuke against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The poll body blames her for creating an atmosphere of fear and violence that targets election officials. This accusation comes in response to a petition filed in the Supreme Court.
EC Cites Systematic Threats and Attacks
In a detailed affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, the Election Commission outlines a troubling pattern. Officials conducting the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal face persistent threats and physical assaults. The EC states that these incidents stand in stark contrast to other states where the process has proceeded smoothly.
Provocative Speeches and Targeted Intimidation
The Commission specifically points to public addresses by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. It claims her speeches are inherently provocative and designed to intimidate. During a press conference on January 14, Banerjee allegedly engaged in fear-mongering and spread misleading information about the SIR process.
More alarmingly, she reportedly identified and targeted a specific micro-observer. This public isolation of an official performing statutory duties subjects him to unwarranted pressure. The EC argues such conduct gravely compromises the independence and safety of its personnel.
Real-World Consequences on the Ground
The repercussions of this hostile environment are immediate and severe. On January 14, nine micro-observers in Murshidabad's Farakka Assembly Constituency submitted a collective protest letter. They formally withdrew from their SIR duties citing violent assaults and inadequate security.
The violence escalated the very next day. A mob of approximately 700 people attacked and ransacked the office of the Development Officer in Chakulia, Uttar Dinajpur. The attackers destroyed computer infrastructure and vital documents related to the electoral revision work.
A Culture of Impunity and Police Inaction
The Election Commission's affidavit highlights a critical failure in law enforcement. It notes a pervasive reluctance among local police in West Bengal to register FIRs based on complaints from Booth Level Officers. In some cases, FIRs were filed only after direct intervention by District Election Officers, with arrests following much later.
This inaction stands in direct violation of EC directives. While other states have complied with orders to register FIRs and take disciplinary action, West Bengal has willfully neglected these procedures. The state has failed to act even after formal inquiries acknowledged dereliction of duty by officials.
Examples of Open Defiance
The affidavit provides concrete examples of this defiance. On November 24, protesters claiming to be BLOs attempted to forcefully enter the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Kolkata. Despite explicit directives to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, the demonstrators were not removed. They remained encamped on the premises for an extended 28-hour period. No FIR was filed, and no protester was apprehended.
Inflammatory Statements from Leaders
The EC document cites several highly inflammatory statements from West Bengal's political leaders. These remarks have directly contributed to the climate of intimidation.
- A sitting state minister threatened to "break the legs of the Election Commission."
- An MLA warned that deleting names during the SIR process would be like "playing with fire."
- There were threats to physically restrain BLOs who failed to present earlier electoral rolls.
- The Chief Minister herself made public declarations urging people to take the "law into their own hands."
Mobilized Disruption of Official Work
Reports from electoral roll observers indicate that these calls to action have had a direct effect. Groups of women, allegedly mobilized by political operatives, have obstructed the work of BLOs and other election officials. They disrupt activities while shouting politically motivated slogans, preventing the smooth conduct of the revision process.
EC's Plea for a Free and Fair Process
The Election Commission emphasizes that the successful and fearless completion of the electoral roll revision is imperative. It is a foundational step for preparing accurate rolls for future elections. The EC laments the emergence of this disturbing pattern of conduct in West Bengal, which it calls previously unseen during such exercises.
The Supreme Court had issued a notice on this matter on December 9. The petition was filed by the organization Sanatani Sangsad, represented by senior advocate V Giri. The petition sought to highlight the alleged violence against BLOs and pleaded for their protection.
The Election Commission's strong affidavit now places the blame squarely on the state's political leadership. It argues that provocative rhetoric has created a tangible threat to democracy's basic machinery in West Bengal.
