kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK :  Kolkata, Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission (EC), accusing the institution of sacrificing its impartiality and autonomy under the current political regime. Claiming that BJP leaders have effectively become spokespersons for the EC, Banerjee argued that this erosion of independence threatens the very foundations of democratic governance. He expressed these sentiments upon his return from Delhi, addressing reporters at the Kolkata airport and articulating his resolve to fight the EC across multiple platforms.

Banerjee specifically referenced the EC's recent directive asking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to submit an affidavit in response to allegations of voter fraud. Such a demand, he asserted, was unnecessary, given that under election guidelines, electoral roll errors can be addressed suo motu by the appropriate electoral roll officers. He described the affidavit requirement as a needless burden on citizens and a diversion from the Commission’s own responsibilities.

He also raised serious concerns about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar, pointing out that the EC had sidestepped sensitive questions related to discrepancies, instead diverting blame toward opposition parties. With the Commission having admitted the inclusion of deceased individuals in the voter lists, Banerjee insisted that the legitimacy of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is in question. If faults in the rolls were indeed the basis for the polls, he maintained, a criminal investigation is warranted, new elections must be held, and the entire Lok Sabha should be dissolved.

Banerjee’s challenge to the status quo did not stop there. With pointed urgency, he threatened to escalate the battle against the EC in courts and Parliament, underlining that the TMC won’t hesitate to deploy constitutional and legal tools in defense of electoral integrity. He also questioned why BJP leaders appeared to vocally defend the EC’s decisions, especially when they concern controversial procedures such as SIR.

Banerjee’s critique comes amid mounting distrust from opposition parties toward election agencies. The Congress Party dismissed the Commission's insistence on its neutrality as “laughable,” further accusing it of forming a political consensus with the BJP rather than maintaining a nonpartisan stance.

This confrontation has generated significant political tension. Opposition leaders argue that the EC and related institutions like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are being leveraged to intimidate political dissenters without substantive evidence. The Commission's credibility appears to be at a breaking point, igniting urgent calls for greater transparency, institutional accountability, and impartial conduct.