Kolkata, March 17 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused the Election Commission, alleging that it was acting on behalf of the BJP and warned that both the poll panel and the saffron party would be responsible if any incident occurs during the election period.
Addressing reporters after announcing the TMC’s candidate list for the 2026 assembly elections, Banerjee claimed that the Election Commission was “playing a game on behalf of the BJP”.
“If that is the case, the individuals responsible for these transfers should contest elections and campaign for the BJP,” she said.
Following the announcement of the election dates, the Election Commission transferred Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty and Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena. It subsequently removed Director General of Police Peeyush Pandey and Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar.
Banerjee alleged that the list of officials transferred had been prepared by the BJP’s office and merely implemented by the Election Commission.
“Why are senior officers being transferred just before Eid? Are there plans to incite riots before the elections?... They have prepared the list in the BJP office, and the Election Commission is implementing it,” she claimed.
Banerjee alleged that some officials from outside West Bengal had been brought in to assist the BJP during the electoral process.
The TMC supremo also alleged that the transfers were aimed at facilitating the movement of money and arms for the BJP ahead of the polls.
“The officers have been replaced so that money and arms are smoothly transferred to the BJP without any hindrance,” she claimed.
Taking a swipe at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Banerjee alleged that the poll body had “unleashed a super emergency and super-autocracy in Bengal”.
“They should not play behind the clouds. If they want to help the BJP, they should come forward and say so openly,” she said.
Calling the upcoming election a battle to safeguard “Bengali asmita”, she said the TMC would win more than 226 seats in the 294-member assembly, for which voting will take place on April 23 and 29.
Warning of consequences if violence breaks out during the election period, Banerjee said, “The BJP and the EC will be responsible.”
The TMC supremo also accused the EC of conspiring with the BJP to carry out large-scale deletion of names from the electoral roll.
Claiming that around 54 lakh names had been removed from the voter list, Banerjee alleged that the exercise disproportionately affected Bengalis and long-settled Hindi-speaking residents of the state.
“Among the 54 lakh deleted names, 60 per cent are Bengalis, and 40 per cent are non-Bengalis. They are not only anti-Bengali but also against Hindi-speaking communities who have been living here for centuries,” she said.
Referring to reports that some TMC candidates’ names were placed under the “adjudication” category in the voter list, Banerjee said the issue was not confined to her party.
“Even the name of the BJP candidate from Ausgram is under adjudication. How did the EC allow this to happen? This is not done,” she said.
She alleged that the poll body was delaying publication of the supplementary electoral roll despite directions from the Supreme Court.
“If the names are found missing or marked under the adjudication category, people should approach the tribunal,” she said.
Banerjee added that the tribunal must be constituted quickly to address the issue and voters should be allowed to approach it even a day before polling.
“Our BLAs will be with them and we will do whatever is needed,” she said.
Banerjee dismissed the allegation raised by BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, that infiltrators had found their way into the voter list.
“How many Bangladeshis and Rohingyas were found in the list of unmapped and under adjudication categories?” she asked.
“If there are outsiders, they are those leaders from outside who come before polls in Bengal and then disappear later. They are seasonal birds,” Banerjee said.
She also alleged that the BJP was bringing hundreds of party workers from states ruled by it with large amounts of cash to influence voters of Bengal and foment disturbances.
Asked about reports that central paramilitary forces such as the CRPF would guard polling booths during the elections, Banerjee objected strongly.
“The forces cannot enter booths. The BJP and the EC cannot change things as they wish. I challenge this and will move court, if needed,” she said.
Reacting to a reported remark by an election official that the “prevailing culture in Bengal will change”, Banerjee said, “Let the official concerned change his culture. Bengal will take care of its culture.”
She also downplayed the EC’s decision to hold the election in two phases this time, compared to eight phases in 2021.
“They are targeting Bengal. But in whatever phase polls are held, we don’t care. We will win,” she said.
Asked about the BJP’s first list of candidates, Banerjee declined to comment in detail.
“They have lost all credibility. Those who did not ensure any ‘vikash’ are headed for ‘vinash’ in Bengal,” she said, referring to the BJP’s development plank.
Banerjee also expressed apprehension that the BJP might attempt delimitation of constituencies after the elections.
“When faced with moral defeat, they resort to this kind of politics. But we will not allow that to happen,” she said.