TMC's Abhishek Banerjee slams EC; alleges bias, voter suppression in West Bengal
Speaking to reporters before leaving for Delhi to attend a dinner at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's residence, where opposition leaders are expected to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and deliberate on a joint vice-presidential candidate, Banerjee alleged that the poll body had overstepped its constitutional boundaries to give political advantage to the BJP.
"The EC must understand and realise that it is an impartial and unbiased organisation and it has to operate within the ambit of the Constitution," Banerjee said.
Alleging that the EC has become a tool in the hands of the BJP, Banerjee said, "Now the EC has taken a shameless role to snatch the voting rights of genuine voters. They are going overboard. The work they have started over the past 3-4 months, when the Bengal election is still 10-11 months away, clearly shows that they are not going to let an elected government function."
He claimed that the commission was "actively working" to deny Bengalis their franchise under the guise of voter list revision.
"The EC is being used so that the genuine Bengalis of Bengal cannot exercise their voting rights," he said.
Also Read: Abhishek Banerjee appointed TMC's leader of party in Lok Sabha, says Mamata
Taking a dig at a recent controversy, Banerjee added, "Yesterday, I saw a report that a residential certificate had been issued under the name of Donald Trump in Bihar. You should ask the Election Commission about it instead of shooting questions at us."
He continued, "You should ask the Chief Election Commissioner why Donald Trump has imposed a 50 per cent tariff on India. Or maybe, when Mr. Trump comes to cast his vote in Bihar elections, he will be in a suitable position to answer this question."
The Diamond Harbour MP alleged that the commission's actions were aimed at tilting the field in favour of the BJP ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls in West Bengal.
"The EC's responsibility begins only when the Model Code of Conduct is in place. After that, it can take over the state's civil and police administration to ensure a free and fair election. But what it is doing now, months ahead of the polls, shows it is working to benefit the BJP," Banerjee said.
He further accused the commission of bypassing the elected state government, which he said was accountable only to the people of Bengal.
"This government was voted to power in 2021 by 12 crore people of Bengal. It is committed and accountable to them, not to any political party or the Centre," Banerjee asserted.
The TMC leader also accused the BJP of orchestrating a broader campaign to malign the state and its people by using the Election Commission, judiciary, and certain sections of the media.
"They have denied Bengal its rights and misused the judiciary. They used a section of the media to defame Bengal by using a case like Sandeshkhali. Now they are using the EC so that genuine Bengalis cannot vote," Banerjee alleged.
He also criticised the Union government for allegedly blocking funds under key welfare schemes.
Also Read: Bengal: Abhishek to address 9,000 TMC workers as BJP begins 4-day strategy meet
"The Centre has stopped even drinking water funds under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Water is life — yet they've blocked that too. This is not just about 100-day wages, housing, or GST dues anymore," Banerjee alleged.
He also claimed that since the TMC returned to power in 2021, over 50 CBI probes have been initiated by various benches of the Calcutta High Court.
"This is being done under Central pressure to harass the government and weaken the TMC," he said.
Referring to last year's controversy at RG Kar Medical College, Banerjee said, "Despite the smear campaign, Kolkata Police solved the matter in 24 hours. The CBI has done nothing even after a year."
He warned that those attempting to malign Bengal for political gains would be defeated again.
"They were taught a lesson in 2021 and 2024. They will be taught another in the coming days," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
a few seconds ago
- Indian Express
Why Nagaland govt is ruffled over Centre's ‘suggestion' amid talks on Eastern Nagaland autonomy
As the talks to grant greater autonomy to the six districts of Eastern Nagaland gain pace, the state government has expressed concern about the suggestion to include a new provision in the Constitution for the Frontier Naga Territory, the proposed new political and administrative unit. It would effectively 'bifurcate' the state, the government has said. Following a meeting of the state Cabinet on Wednesday, where the issue was discussed at length, state Minister Kenye said a new Constitutional provision apart from the existing Article 371A, which provides special protections to Nagaland, would be 'catastrophic'. The Cabinet met two weeks after representatives of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO) and the Neiphiu Rio-led state administration met in New Delhi. At the meeting, the MHA directed the state government to clear its stand on some key issues within a fortnight. This was the third tripartite meeting on the issue, while deliberations have largely been ongoing between the Centre and ENPO, which has been leading the demand for statehood for the region for decades. Claiming that the state government had been 'kept in the dark' on the Centre-ENPO deliberations for years, Kenye said the suggestion for a separate provision in the Constitution was brought to the notice of the Nagaland Cabinet only on Wednesday. Articles 371 and 371A through J provide 'special provisions' for specific states to allow certain religious and social groups to exercise autonomy over their affairs without interference from the state and central governments. Article 371A relates to Nagaland and according to the provision, Parliament cannot enact laws that affect the social, religious or customary legal practices of Nagas or the transfer and ownership of land without the concurrence of the Assembly. Mizoram has similar provisions under Article 371G, and Article 371 B and C allow the creation of special committees of representatives from tribal or hill areas in the Assemblies of Assam and Manipur. Referring to the recommendation as a 'matter of major concern', Kenye said the Cabinet would travel to Delhi to 'hear from the horse's mouth'. 'At no point did the Centre indicate such an intention to us. Nor have the ENPO thought that such a thing would be possible … But this is something that just cropped up today (Wednesday) during the discussion and it appears to be an idea mooted by the Centre,' he said. Kenye added that the state government was made to understand that whatever was being worked out would be under Article 371A. 'Today, one corner of our deliberation more or less started implying that there would be a new Article… Assam is (371) B, Manipur is C, Mizoram is D, Sikkim is E, Arunachal is F, H, I, J. Now if they say that this new entity will be under Article 371K, that would mean something outside Article 371A is born… In fact, the state would have nothing to do with it anymore. So before we proceed further, I think there are certain areas that we have to ascertain,' he said. In 2019, Northeastern states were on the edge after the Centre scrapped Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Saying that the state government was not in favour of Article 371A coming up for scrutiny in Parliament, Kenye said, 'Other issues (with regard to autonomy) are minor. Be it judiciary, finance, administration, or legislature, the state has no objection. What the state and the people are concerned about is whether we are going to be bifurcated by way of giving them a new article. Whether 371A is again going to be under the scrutiny of Parliament is what we are apprehensive about.' During the course of negotiation, the ENPO's demand for a separate state has evolved into a 'special arrangement' called the Frontier Naga Territory within the state. Citing the relative backwardness of the six districts, the demand escalated in 2010 and again flared up ahead of the 2023 Assembly polls, which it had threatened to boycott. Citing assurance from the MHA that a 'mutually agreed upon solution' would be reached and implemented after the election, the ENPO withdrew the boycott call. However, claiming that the state government was stalling the issue, the organisation boycotted last year's Lok Sabha elections with no voting taking place across the six districts. ENPO president Chingmak Chang and general secretary Honang Konyak could not be reached for comment.
The Hindu
a few seconds ago
- The Hindu
Thousands to welcome PM Modi in Bengaluru on August 10, says BJP Karnataka
The Karnataka BJP is gearing up to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Bengaluru on August 10, when he will inaugurate the much-awaited Yellow Line of Namma Metro and the Vande Bharat Express. According to BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra, thousands of party workers will be mobilised to give the Prime Minister a grand welcome across the city. Mr. Vijayendra, said 'the Prime Minister will first land at the military ground in a helicopter near Mekhri Circle and proceed via road through Mekhri and Chalukya Circles to the Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station in Majestic. There, he will flag off the Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and Belagavi. He will then travel via South End Circle and reach Ragigudda, followed by a programme at the Electronic City Metro Station.' Mr. Vijayendra said the metro line's progress had accelerated under the BJP governments led by B.S. Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai. 'There is a festive atmosphere in Bengaluru. The people are eagerly awaiting the Prime Minister's arrival. Thousands of BJP workers will gather to welcome the Prime Minister at key junctions and Metro stations along the Yellow Line,' he added.
The Hindu
a few seconds ago
- The Hindu
BJP SCs Morcha criticises State govt. for diverting SCP, TSP funds for guarantee schemes
BJP Scheduled Castes Morcha has criticised the State government for diverting funds meant for Special Component Plan and Scheduled Tribe Sub-Plan (SCP/TSP) to the guarantee schemes. State vice-president of BJP SCs Morcha Ambaraya Ashtagi, addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi on Thursday, said that the SCP and TSP plans were introduced for the empowerment of the oppressed sections by allocating exclusive funds in addition to the regular expenditure on various welfare schemes. The SCP-TSP schemes have been designed to empower Scheduled Castes socially, economically and educationally by providing opportunities for skill development, access to quality education and promoting social justice. But diverting these funds for the guarantee schemes has hindered the core objectives of the SCP, TSP schemes, Mr. Ashtagi said. In all, the State government has diverted ₹39,000 crore for the guarantee schemes. It has diverted ₹11,114 crore in 2023-24, ₹14,282 crore in 2024-25 and ₹11,896.84 crore in 2025-26. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah came to power in the name of AHINDA (a coalition of minorities, backward classes and Dalits) by promising to empower these communities. But he has failed to implement any concrete programmes to uplift Dalits and his decisions are depriving the rights of Scheduled Castes, Mr. Ashtagi said.
