With around two weeks left for the West Bengal Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India has issued a strict warning to the All India Trinamool Congress. The poll body said elections this time
must be free from fear, violence, intimidation and inducement.
In a post on X, the EC described it as “straight-talk” to the party. It also warned against illegal practices such as booth capturing, booth jamming and “source jamming”, which refers to disruption of voter mobilisation or access.
“ECI’s straight-talk to Trinamool Congress,” the election authority wrote on X. “This time, the elections in West Bengal would surely be: Fear-free, Violence-free, Intimidation-free, Inducement-free and without any Raid, Booth Jamming and Source Jamming.”
Political reactions
The EC’s remarks triggered sharp responses from political leaders. Mahua Moitra compared the warning to an ultimatum, saying it was similar to one issued by Donald Trump to Iran.
““Ultimatum” by @ECISVEEP to Trinamool Congress is like Trump’s ultimatum to Iran. And we all know who won that round,” said Mahua Moitra.
Saket Gokhale strongly criticised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, calling him BJP ‘dalal’ and accusing the EC of targeting a single party. He questioned whether similar language would be used against the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Akhilesh Yadav also reacted, saying removing the EC would resolve issues.
“Just remove the ECI, and everything else will fall into place on its own,” Akhilesh Yadav said.
Poll violence in Bengal
West Bengal has seen repeated election-related violence over the past two decades. Hundreds have been killed and thousands injured during campaigns and polling.
The 2021 Assembly elections recorded over 1,300 incidents of violence, 25 deaths and 7,000 cases of molestation, according to a fact-finding report. The report noted that the scale of violence under the TMC exceeded previous records during the Left Front period.
Tensions between TMC and EC
Tensions between the TMC and the EC have been rising. Earlier, a meeting between a TMC delegation and the EC ended in a heated exchange. TMC MP Derek O’Brien claimed that the Chief Election Commissioner told them to “get lost” after a brief meeting, while the EC accused him of interrupting and raising his voice.
The TMC also submitted letters from Mamata Banerjee and raised concerns about poll officials allegedly linked to the BJP.
Row over voter lists
The dispute has also centred on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The TMC has alleged that the EC is favouring the BJP by removing voters.
According to the party, out of 60 lakh voters under adjudication, 27 lakh have been removed. The total number of voters in West Bengal now stands at 7.04 crore, down from 7.66 crore before the revision.
Officer transfers
The EC recently transferred 483 officials in the state, including senior administrators and police officers. The TMC opposed the move, calling it a power grab. The EC said the transfers are necessary to ensure free and fair elections and to prevent violence.
Poll dates
Voting in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with results to be announced on May 4.
