Mamata Banerjee, CEC Gyanesh Kumar (Images/Agencies)
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday rejected West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.ECI sources claimed the Trinamool Congress leader “raised false allegations, misbehaved, thumped the table and left” during a meeting on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
According to news agency ANI citing sources, CEC Gyanesh Kumar responded to the queries raised by Banerjee, who led a party delegation to the Election Commission and explained that the rule of law would prevail throughout the SIR process. “The CEC responded to her queries and explained that rule of law shall prevail and anybody taking law into their own hands shall be dealt with strictly as per the provisions of law and powers vested in the Commission,” according to sources.The source added that despite “polite posture” of the CEC and the two other Election Commissioners, Banerjee allegedly behaved in an inappropriate manner. “The Trinamool Congress leader raised false allegations, misbehaved, thumped the table and left,” it claimed.ECI sources also alleged that TMC leaders and legislators have been targeting election officials in West Bengal. It alleged that TMC MLAs are openly using abusive and threatening language against the Election Commission and especially against the CEC. “There have been incidents of vandalisation of the ERO (SDO/BDO) offices by TMC workers and MLAs,” the source alleged.The poll body further stressed that officers involved in the SIR process must be allowed to function without pressure. “No pressure, obstruction, or interference of any kind by anyone should be exerted on officers engaged in work concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls,” the sources said.The Election Commission also raised administrative concerns, stating that honorarium for Booth Level Officers (BLOs) had not been fully paid. “Only Rs 7,000 out of Rs 18,000 per BLO has been paid so far,” a source said, adding that payments should be released without delay.The sources further said that the EROs and AEROs deployed in the state were not of the required rank. They highlighted that the Commission had sought proposals for the appointment of Returning Officers on January 20 as per prescribed criteria, but only 67 Assembly constituencies currently have ROs of the rank of SDO or SDM.The ECI also alleged procedural lapses by the West Bengal government, including the transfer of three Electoral Roll Observers without consulting the Commission. “The ECI requested cancellation of the transfer orders on January 27, but no action has been reported so far,” a source said.Additionally, the poll body claimed that no FIR had been registered against four election officers, two EROs and two AEROs and one Data Entry Operator for their failure to perform their statutory duties and for violating data security policies by sharing log-in credentials with unauthorised persons.Earlier in the day, Banerjee had sharply attacked the CEC while speaking to reporters outside the Election Commission office. “I am very sad. I have been involved in politics in Delhi for a very long time. I was a minister four times and an MP seven times. I have never seen such an Election Commissioner who is so arrogant, who is such a liar,” she alleged.The West Bengal chief minister accused the poll body of selectively targeting her state and questioned the deletion of voters’ names. “Why Bengal is being targeted? Elections are a festival in a democracy, but you deleted the names of 58 lakh people and did not allow them to defend themselves,” she said.The confrontation comes ahead of Assembly elections in West Bengal, scheduled to be held in the first half of this year and amid heightened political tension over the ongoing nationwide SIR exercise, which is currently under way in 12 states and union territories. The final electoral rolls are scheduled to be published on February 7.
