The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has increased its criticisms of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with both Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee calling for his arrest and criminal charges. This intensification of their stance comes amid speculation regarding a potential division within the Election Commission (EC) over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter registration across India.

On September 24, Mahua Moitra, a TMC Member of Parliament representing Krishnanagar, submitted a police complaint requesting a First Information Report (FIR) against Kumar, alleging misconduct during the SIR process. She referenced reports suggesting that Kumar acted independently, without the consent of other election commissioners, particularly in relation to voter deletions and modifications to electoral records.

Moitra further outlined accusations against Kumar that included breaches of the Representation of the People Act and the Registration of Electors Rules. She called for a thorough investigation, along with the preservation of pertinent evidence, claiming that public funds were misused in the process.

Public Statements from TMC Leaders

Upon returning to Kolkata after medical checks in the United States, Abhishek Banerjee used his initial media exchange to issue a stark warning directed at Kumar. He insisted on the necessity of a lookout circular to prevent Kumar from leaving the country and condemned the alleged manipulation of voter lists, asserting that this undermined the integrity of the electoral process.

Mamata Banerjee also took to social media to amplify the party’s demand for Kumar’s arrest and to initiate legal proceedings against him. She emphasised that TMC had previously raised issues regarding the electoral process, reiterating that the current situation validated her party’s concerns about voter rights being compromised.

Banerjee further demanded accountability for all officials involved in the alleged irregularities, including deputy election commissioners and IT personnel, thus broadening the scope of potential actions against those associated with Kumar’s decisions.

Allegations of Manipulation and Broader Political Context

During her addresses, Mamata Banerjee specified the significant impact of the SIR process on Bengal’s voters, claiming that approximately 5.8 million individuals had initially faced changes to their electoral status. She accused Seema Khanna, the EC’s IT chief, of operating in a manner favouring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and asserted widespread irregularities in voter registrations.

Mamata correlated the current electoral controversies with allegations of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) manipulation and raised concern over a fire incident at the South 24 Parganas district magistrate’s office, questioning how it affected only the storage area for EVMs.

In her broader critique, Mamata alleged that the BJP government, along with certain elements in the police and civil administration, suppressed dissent. She reported a troubling number of cases, arrests, and fatalities linked to the political environment in Bengal, stating that these issues demand accountability.

In conclusion, the TMC is pushing for the restoration of previous electoral rolls and new elections in areas where they claim voters’ rights have been infringed due to manipulation. Mamata urged all sectors of society—political parties, NGOs, and citizens—to unite in this struggle, characterising it as essential for the preservation of democratic principles in the country.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share