Kolkata, Feb 27 – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of adding fake voters from other states to the electoral rolls with the alleged backing of the Election Commission (EC). At a Trinamool Congress (TMC) state conference at Netaji Indoor Stadium, Banerjee alleged that the BJP had used similar tactics to secure victories in the Delhi and Maharashtra assembly elections.
Banerjee further expressed concerns over the recent appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as the Chief Election Commissioner, claiming that the BJP was attempting to exert control over the independent constitutional body.
Threat of Protest Against EC
The West Bengal chief minister warned that if corrective action were not taken to rectify the voter lists, her party would stage a protest in front of the Election Commission office."If I could go on a 26-day hunger strike during the anti-land acquisition movement in 2006, we can also launch a movement against the Election Commission. If required, we will protest indefinitely in front of the EC office to demand the removal of fake names from the voter roll," she declared. However, she did not specify whether the demonstration would take place in Kolkata or New Delhi.
Allegations of Voter List Manipulation
Banerjee accused the BJP of enrolling voters from Haryana and Gujarat to influence elections, alleging that the same strategy was employed in Delhi and Maharashtra."In Delhi and Maharashtra, the BJP secured victory by adding fake voters from Haryana and Gujarat. Now, they aim to do the same in West Bengal. They know they cannot win if the elections are held fairly," she claimed.
She instructed TMC leaders and workers to verify the electoral rolls physically, asserting that the BJP had manipulated the lists with "the support of the Election Commission of India (ECI)."
"Booth workers must start the verification process immediately. District presidents should oversee the process and submit their findings within seven days," she directed.
Banerjee held up what she claimed was a list of fake voters, stating that names from Haryana and Gujarat had been added under the same Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers as West Bengal residents.
"I have proof from all districts. Names of outsiders have been added online," she alleged.
Attack on the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner
The TMC chief accused the BJP of attempting to influence the Election Commission, stating, "I used to respect the Election Commission. But now, it appears to be filled with BJP-aligned individuals."She criticized the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as the Chief Election Commissioner, alleging that he had previously worked as a secretary in the cooperation department under the Union Home Minister, raising questions about his impartiality.
Banerjee warned that the TMC would not allow outsiders to infiltrate West Bengal’s electoral process. "What the BJP did in Delhi during the assembly elections cannot be repeated in West Bengal," she asserted.
TMC's Counteraction Plan
To counter the alleged voter list manipulation, Banerjee directed TMC state president Subrata Bakshi to lead a committee comprising key party leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, and other MPs, MLAs, and ministers.The committee will oversee block-level scrutiny of the electoral rolls, with the verification process set to begin on Friday and be completed within ten days.
As the political battle intensifies ahead of elections, Banerjee reaffirmed her party’s determination to resist what she described as BJP’s electoral malpractices, declaring, "Once again, Khela Hobe (the game is on). We will strike back harder this time."
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