'Disturbing proximity between BJP and Election Commission': TMC accuses CEC of undermining Constitution

The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) on Tuesday intensified its attack on the Election Commission of India, accusing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of undermining constitutional norms and threatening officials of the West Bengal Government, while also targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged interference in the state’s political affairs.

Addressing supporters at a dharna site in Kolkata, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee alleged a “disturbing proximity” between the BJP and the Election Commission, raising serious concerns about the neutrality of the constitutional body responsible for conducting elections.

Banerjee claimed that whenever Amit Shah visits Kolkata, he stays in a particular hotel room which, he alleged, was also occupied by the Chief Election Commissioner during the same period. “What does this reveal about the so-called neutrality of a constitutional body? Democracy cannot survive when those meant to safeguard elections appear so closely aligned with those in power,” Banerjee alleged.

The TMC leader further accused Gyanesh Kumar of “openly threatening” officials of the Bengal government and crossing legal and constitutional boundaries. He also alleged that there were attempts to import police personnel from BJP-ruled states to intimidate officers in West Bengal, calling it a “dangerous overreach scripted to serve the BJP’s interests”.

“Our courtesy must not be mistaken for weakness. If they dare to trample upon the law, Bengal will resist — firmly, fearlessly, and within the framework of the Constitution,” Banerjee asserted.

Meanwhile, Saket Gokhale, Rajya Sabha MP from the TMC, on Tuesday submitted a notice seeking a discussion on safeguards to ensure that no genuine citizen is deprived of the right to vote.

“In a democracy as large and diverse as India, protecting the voting rights of every genuine citizen must remain a central priority,” Gokhale said. He added that any large-scale administrative exercise related to voter registration or citizenship verification carries the risk of errors and must be designed to prevent the wrongful exclusion of legitimate citizens from the electoral process.