West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee abruptly walked out of a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Monday, reportedly without listening to the Election Commission’s response on concerns raised over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Election Commission officials described her exit as “agitated” and said the meeting ended on a tense note.
The high-level meeting, held in the national capital, included senior leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and families claiming to be affected by the SIR process.
TMC Delegation Meets Election Commission
According to Election Commission officials, the TMC delegation was led by Mamata Banerjee and included party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, along with other leaders and representatives of so-called “SIR-affected” families.
The TMC leaders wore black shawls during the meeting as a mark of protest. Abhishek Banerjee spoke first, followed by the Chief Minister. Officials said that all points raised by the delegation were formally noted by the Commission.
Present at the meeting were CEC Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners S.S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
CEC’s Response Interrupted, Officials Say
Election Commission sources claimed that when the CEC began responding to the concerns raised by the TMC leadership, the delegation repeatedly interrupted him.
“When the Chief Election Commissioner started to explain the Commission’s position, the TMC leaders interjected several times. Mamata Banerjee appeared agitated and left the meeting in a huff,” an EC official said.
The officials added that the Chief Minister exited before the Commission could fully place its response on record.
‘Rule of Law Will Prevail,’ Says Election Commission
During the meeting, CEC Gyanesh Kumar reportedly issued a strong message, asserting that the rule of law would be upheld under all circumstances.
He warned that anyone attempting to take the law into their own hands would face strict action under the legal powers vested in the Election Commission.
The CEC also raised concerns about alleged misconduct by TMC leaders and workers, including the use of abusive and threatening language against Election Commission officials.
Allegations of Threats and Vandalism Raised
According to EC officials, the Chief Election Commissioner informed the TMC delegation about incidents involving threats and vandalism linked to the SIR exercise.
He specifically pointed to reports of electoral registration officers being targeted and obstructed during the revision process.
“No pressure, obstruction, or interference of any kind should be exerted on officers engaged in SIR work,” the CEC told the delegation.
The Commission also emphasized that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) must be allowed to carry out their duties freely and that pending honorariums for BLOs should be released without delay.
Mamata Banerjee Slams EC After Meeting
After emerging from the meeting, Mamata Banerjee sharply criticized the Election Commission, accusing it of acting as a “dalal” (middleman) for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Her remarks further escalated the political tension surrounding the SIR process in West Bengal, where the TMC has consistently alleged bias and procedural irregularities by the poll panel.
Political Tensions Deepen Ahead of Key Electoral Processes
The confrontation highlights the growing friction between the Election Commission and the West Bengal government over the conduct of electoral processes in the state.
While the TMC maintains that the SIR exercise has unfairly targeted certain sections of voters, the Election Commission has repeatedly asserted that the revision is being carried out strictly as per law and established procedures.