Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has sought a meeting with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal amid rising political tension over the ‘logical discrepancy’ issue linked to the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
According to party sources, an email has been sent requesting a meeting between Abhishek Banerjee and state CEO Manoj Agarwal on January 27. The TMC leader is expected to be accompanied by a 10-member party delegation. Sources within the Election Commission indicated that the CEO is likely to meet the TMC delegation on the requested date.
The move has assumed significance against the backdrop of growing controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in the SIR process. The issue gained further momentum after the Supreme Court on Monday directed the Commission to publish the list of ‘logical discrepancies’ identified during the revision exercise. Following the apex court’s order, the ruling TMC has sharpened its attack on both the Commission and the BJP.
Addressing a rally in Barasat on Monday, Abhishek Banerjee targeted the Commission and the BJP simultaneously, saying, “The Supreme Court has slapped them hard on both cheeks. They lost in court, now we will defeat them in the elections.” Political observers note that the ruling party is increasingly using the court’s order to intensify pressure on the poll body.
Sources within the TMC said the proposed meeting with the CEO has been sought to raise a series of questions and objections related to the SIR process. Party leaders have alleged irregularities and lack of transparency in the handling of voter list revisions.
Notably, Abhishek had earlier met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi on December 31. He later claimed that the Commission did not provide satisfactory answers to the concerns raised during that meeting. Since then, he has repeatedly questioned the neutrality of the Commission at public rallies and programmes.
The TMC leadership, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has alleged that the Commission is functioning as the BJP’s “B-team,” a charge the Commission has denied in the past. Political analysts believe that the proposed meeting between the TMC delegation and the state CEO, coming in the wake of the Supreme Court’s order and escalating political rhetoric, has added a fresh layer of tension to West Bengal’s already charged political atmosphere.
Also read: HC inauguration turns political as Mamata flags ‘agency misuse’
Follow us
