In a fiery press conference, Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha leader Abhishek Banerjee unleashed a blistering critique of the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday, accusing it of abandoning its constitutional duty to remain neutral and actively working to strip legitimate voters in West Bengal of their democratic rights. The sharp remarks come amid growing tensions over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which Banerjee claims is being manipulated to disenfranchise Bengali citizens.

Speaking before departing for Delhi to attend a strategic dinner hosted by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to discuss the SIR and a potential joint candidate for the Vice-Presidential election, Banerjee did not hold back. “The Election Commission must realize it is an impartial, unbiased body bound by the Constitution,” he declared, alleging that the EC is instead playing an “active and shameless role” in undermining the voting rights of genuine citizens. He pointed to a bizarre report of a residential certificate issued in the name of Donald Trump as evidence of the EC’s mismanagement, urging reporters to question the poll body directly.

Banerjee further accused the EC of acting as a pawn for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming it is targeting “established Bengalis who speak Bengali and live in Bengal” to prevent them from voting. “The EC is overstepping its mandate, interfering in areas beyond its jurisdiction,” he charged, emphasizing that the TMC-led state government, elected by 12 crore Bengalis in 2021, answers only to the people, not to any political party or the central government.

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The TMC’s allegations have sparked a political firestorm, with supporters rallying behind Banerjee’s call to protect Bengal’s democratic rights. Critics, however, argue that the TMC is deflecting blame to stoke regional sentiments. As the controversy intensifies, all eyes are on the EC to respond to these grave accusations and restore public trust in the electoral process.

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