A meeting between a delegation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the full bench of the Election Commission of India on Wednesday ended in a bitter exchange, with TMC alleging that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar told them to “get lost,” while the EC claimed the delegation engaged in shouting.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien said the delegation submitted letters from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding instances of poll officials allegedly having links with the BJP. According to O’Brien, within seven minutes of the meeting, the CEC told them to “get lost,” despite the TMC being the second largest opposition party in Parliament.
O’Brien also noted that one delegation member sarcastically congratulated the CEC for being the only Chief Election Commissioner in Indian history to have notices moved for his removal in Parliament.
Other TMC MPs present, including Saket Gokhale, Menaka Guruswamy, and Sagarika Ghose, corroborated that the CEC had only said “GET LOST” during the meeting, rejecting the EC’s social media claims about the discussion.
Election Commission Response
The EC stated that O’Brien raised his voice and disrupted the meeting, prompting the CEC to remind him to maintain decorum. The Commission also posted on X that the upcoming 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections would be conducted free from fear, violence, intimidation, inducement, raids, booth jamming, and source jamming.
The EC had earlier transferred 483 officials in West Bengal, including top administrators, police officers, and returning officers, citing the need to ensure free and fair elections and prevent post-poll violence. The TMC opposed these transfers, calling them a “power grab.”
Voter Roll Controversy
Tensions are further fueled by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The TMC alleges that 60 lakh voters were placed under adjudication, with 27 lakh removed, reducing West Bengal’s voter count to 7.04 crore from 7.66 crore before the SIR. The party claims the EC’s actions favor the BJP.
Election Timeline
Polling for West Bengal’s 294-member Assembly is scheduled in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with vote counting on May 4. West Bengal has a history of poll-related violence, with over 1,300 violent incidents reported during the 2021 elections.
The standoff between the TMC and the EC adds to the high-stakes atmosphere ahead of the state polls, reflecting concerns over electoral fairness, administration, and voter suppression.
