Mamata’s EC Ultimatum: Voter List Concerns

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

Mamata Banerjee accuses Election Commission of voter list manipulation with BJP.
Mamata warns of indefinite dharna outside EC office for voter list corrections.
She alleges “fake voters” from other states are being listed in Bengal.
Mamata instructs party workers to form a committee to scrutinize voter lists.
She accuses BJP of influencing central agencies and allowing “outsiders” to occupy Bengal.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has issued a stern warning to the Election Commission (EC). Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP of getting “fake voters” from other states listed in the electoral rolls of West Bengal with the “help” of the Election Commission. Mamata Banerjee has warned of an indefinite dharna against the Election Commission if the voter list irregularities are not rectified. Mamata Banerjee said she will not let “outsiders” occupy Bengal.

Accusations Against the Election Commission

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Speaking at a Trinamool Congress (TMC) meeting in Kolkata, the Chief Minister alleged that the BJP had manipulated voter lists in Delhi and Maharashtra and was attempting the same for the Bengal assembly polls next year.

Mamata declared her party would win at least two-thirds of the 294 assembly seats and vowed an agitation against the EC, if necessary. “If needed, we can stage an indefinite dharna outside the EC office to press for corrections in the voter rolls,” she stated.

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Questioning Election Commissioner Appointment

Mamata criticised the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner and alleged that two agencies—Association of Brilliant Minds and India 360—were manipulating voter lists in Bengal by enrolling names from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana.

The TMC chief highlighted alleged discrepancies in the electoral rolls, citing instances where new voters with the same photo identity card number had replaced old ones. She alleged that the BJP’s electoral strategy focused on constituencies where the party had suffered narrow losses in the previous assembly election in Bengal in 2021.

Protecting Bengal’s Culture and Identity

“This manipulation threatens Bengal’s culture and identity. We respect guests, but we won’t allow outsiders to occupy Bengal,” she said, warning that the changes in the electoral rolls could have a sinister design, potentially linked to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

She claimed people working for the two agencies had not conducted field surveys and were manipulating the voter lists with the help of assistant returning officers and data operators. “Online does not mean voters from Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab will get to vote here. We can sit on a dharna outside Nirvachan Bhawan (EC headquarters in New Delhi) for days, if required,” she warned.

Sagarika Ghose’s Role

Apparently, the TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose brought the matter to Mamata’s attention. “This is how they won in Maharashtra and Delhi. They (Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress in Maharashtra and Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi) failed to understand this, but we have caught them (voter list manipulators). This must have happened in every district. We cannot let this go unchecked,” said Mamata.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had also alleged manipulation of electoral rolls in the Maharashtra elections on the floor of Parliament and demanded answers from the EC.

Voter List Scrutiny Committee

Mamata has instructed TMC Bengal president Subrata Bakshi to head a committee, comprising national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien, Sudip Bandyopadhyay and several other MPs, MLAs, state ministers and party leaders, to review voter lists in each block of Bengal. “The future of MPs also depends on this (voter list revision). I don’t trust the BJP. Under one nation, one election, they can hold assembly and Lok Sabha polls together. The MPs will also have to work on cleansing the list,” she said.

She instructed party functionaries at the block level to scrutinise the electoral rolls—a task to be completed within the next fortnight. At least four members of the committee will be available at the party headquarters in Kolkata to receive inputs from the blocks and districts regarding discrepancies in the electoral rolls.

Issue of Illegal Immigrants

The TMC chief described the deportation of illegal Indian immigrants from the United States in chains as “shameful” and asked why the Indian government had not taken measures to bring them back with dignity. She also took a swipe at the BJP’s for allegedly influencing the central investigative agencies. “They (BJP) might have power, money and media support, but they don’t have dedicated workers like us who will protect Bengal at any cost,” she said.

Speaking before his aunt, Abhishek laughed off speculation about his alleged links to the BJP, saying: “Even if someone slits my throat, I will still say ‘Mamata Banerjee zindabad’.” He accused a section of the media of spreading falsehoods, particularly about investigations against TMC leaders.

Abhishek set TMC workers the target of winning the party at least 215 assembly seats. “We will not leave an inch of land for the BJP, CPI(M) or Congress. The Trinamool Congress will return to power with more than 215 seats,” he declared.

With the TMC in poll mode, Mamata urged party workers to remain focused and ensure public outreach and the success of welfare programmes. She stressed on unity and tireless work to secure the party another resounding victory.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember