Mamata Banerjee has publicly denounced Gyanesh Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner of India, demanding his immediate arrest for alleged manipulation in the electoral process. The former Chief Minister of West Bengal made her statement during a press conference in Kolkata on September 23, firmly asserting that Kumar lacks the moral authority to continue in his role.

A report, which highlighted objections from two of the three Election Commissioners to decisions related to the Special Intensive Regulation (SIR) process. The report claimed that Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected at least 14 times over the past 10 months to orders issued without their prior knowledge.

In her address, Banerjee stated that the integrity of the electoral machinery has been compromised through the appointment of officials with alleged ties to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She described these revelations as a significant scandal impacting the nation’s democratic foundations.

Details of Allegations Against Gyanesh Kumar

Banerjee labelled the situation as unprecedented, asserting that such manipulation had never been witnessed before in India’s electoral history. She stressed that Gyanesh Kumar should be arrested for his actions, claiming that the BJP was attempting to undermine the Constitution and democracy in India, she said.

Banerjee further expressed concern over what she termed the ‘deployment’ of BJP-aligned officials within the Election Commission. During her remarks, she reiterated, “What we had said earlier has now been completely exposed”, suggesting that a broader conspiracy is at play within the electoral framework.

In a fierce personal attack against Kumar, she urged him to relinquish his position and face the legal consequences of his actions. “If you have any honour left, you should call for your own arrest,” she emphasised, underlining her call for accountability.

Response from the Election Commission

In response to the allegations published by the Indian Express, the Election Commission released a statement asserting that all directives issued by the body possess full legal standing. They maintained that any questions or concerns raised by Commission members during procedural drafts represent standard practices and procedures within the organisation.

The Election Commission reiterated its adherence to constitutional mandates as outlined in Article 324, as well as its commitment to transparency and legal compliance. They argued that internal deliberations involving varying opinions are commonplace in any multi-member constitutional body and asserted that all procedures align with expected statutory rules.

Furthermore, they clarified that suggestions made by the Commissioners aimed at enhancing electoral processes are part of regular administrative practices designed to protect voter rights. The Commission concluded that differing viewpoints are essential to any productive deliberation process.

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