Tensions between the Trinamool Congress and the Election Commission escalated sharply on Wednesday after a controversial threat by TMC leader and Farakka
MLA Manirul Islam triggered a political storm in poll bound West Bengal, deepening an already volatile standoff over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Islam as quoted by Times Of India, said the Election Commission would be “hunted down from the netherworld” and “taught a lesson” as the deadlock over the SIR exercise continued across the state. The remarks immediately drew condemnation from the BJP, which accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of encouraging intimidation of constitutional authorities. The statement has added to Islam’s growing list of controversies. Just days earlier, the Farakka MLA was accused of leading a mob to the Block Development Office in his constituency, where officials were allegedly assaulted and property vandalised. BJP MLA Gouri Sankar later blamed Mamata Banerjee for “instigating her cadres across the state to commit riots and violence”. The BJP went on the offensive after Islam’s remarks, directly targeting the chief minister. “Manirul Islam, a sitting TMC MLA, openly threatens the Election Commission of India, saying it will be ‘taught a lesson’ and ‘hunted down from underground.’ Mamata Banerjee as Home Minister is asking her MLA to intimidate officials! TMC protects illegal infiltrators!” BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari posted on X.
SIR protests spill onto streets
Islam’s comments came amid rising tension across Bengal over the submission of Form 7 under the Special Intensive Revision process. On Tuesday, clashes broke out in multiple districts as TMC and BJP workers blocked roads and staged protests. In Hooghly’s Mogra area, BJP supporters blocked the GT Road, demanding the right to submit Form 7 in the presence of central security forces.
As violence flared, the Trinamool Congress issued an appeal for restraint. “The anger and frustration is understandable. But the fight has to be fought in courtrooms and on EVMs. CM Mamata Banerjee is fighting for you. Do not fall for provocation,” party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused the ruling party of deliberately creating chaos. He alleged that the TMC had unleashed “statewide anarchy” to derail the SIR exercise.
PM Modi sharpens attack
The row has also drawn national attention, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi weighing in on the issue of illegal immigration, a subject closely linked to the SIR debate. Addressing BJP workers in Delhi, Modi said, “Illegal immigrants pose a great threat to the country’s security. Identifying them and sending them back to their countries is absolutely essential.”
“No country in the world accepts illegal immigrants. India, too, cannot allow illegal immigrants to steal the rights of our poor and our youth,” he added, in an apparent attack on the Trinamool Congress without naming it.
