In a significant escalation of political rhetoric, West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya launched a direct and personal attack on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Friday. Bhattacharya demanded that the CEC stop issuing directives from the national capital and instead come to Kolkata to personally oversee the election process in the state.
A Direct Challenge to the Election Commission
Speaking forcefully to reporters, Bhattacharya dismissed the idea of remote monitoring as ineffective for Bengal's unique political climate. "Bengal is not like other states. If he thinks he will sit in Delhi and monitor SIR in Bengal via satellite, he is wrong," the BJP state chief asserted. He emphasized that merely sending officers from Delhi would not suffice and that the situation on the ground required a hands-on approach from the top official.
Allegations of Pressure on Election Officials
The Rajya Sabha member did not mince words when he claimed that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are working under immense pressure from the ruling Trinamool Congress. He squarely placed the responsibility for their security and impartial functioning on the Election Commission of India. "EC has to take responsibility for the situation that the BLOs are facing," Bhattacharya stated, marking an uncharacteristically personal critique that named the CEC directly.
He elaborated on his demand, insisting that CEC Gyanesh Kumar needs to witness the challenges first-hand. "He (Kumar) needs to see first-hand how the BLOs are working in Bengal... The situation in Bengal is different from other states," he repeated, underscoring his central argument. The BJP leader's final plea was a clear call to action: "We demand that Gyanesh Kumar should come here. He should sit here in Bengal, if necessary go to the field."
