Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo, on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission following her party’s setback in the recent state polls. Addressing a press conference on May 5, Banerjee alleged large-scale electoral irregularities and categorically stated that she would not resign from her post, asserting that the defeat was not a reflection of the people’s mandate.
Calling the election outcome a “conspiracy”, Banerjee reiterated her accusation of “vote chori” (vote theft), claiming that the democratic rights of the people had been undermined. She further described the episode as a “black chapter in history”, raising serious concerns about the conduct of the electoral process.
‘Will not resign, did not lose’
Banerjee firmly rejected calls for her resignation, stating that her party had not genuinely lost the elections. “The question of my resignation does not arise, as we were defeated not by a public mandate but by a conspiracy,” she said.
She alleged that the results in nearly 100 seats were manipulated and that the counting process was deliberately slowed down to demoralise TMC workers. According to her, the outcome did not reflect the will of the electorate but was influenced by external interference.
Banerjee also indicated that any further action should follow constitutional procedures, maintaining that she would continue to serve unless removed through due process.
Sharp criticism of Election Commission
In a strongly worded statement, Banerjee targeted the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), referring to the office as acting in favour of the BJP. She accused the Election Commission of facilitating electoral malpractice and failing to ensure a free and fair election.
“Sad to say, the CEC became the villain of this election,” she remarked, alleging that the democratic rights of voters had been compromised. She raised questions about the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), particularly pointing to unusually high battery levels after polling.
Banerjee further claimed that administrative machinery was misused in the run-up to the elections. She alleged that several IPS and IAS officers were transferred and replaced strategically, while enforcement agencies carried out raids targeting TMC members.
Allegations of violence and intimidation
The Chief Minister also made serious allegations regarding violence during the counting process. She claimed that she was physically attacked inside a counting centre on May 4, alleging that she was “kicked, pushed and manhandled”.
According to Banerjee, TMC counting agents were assaulted and forced out of counting centres, allegedly by BJP supporters and security personnel. She claimed that women were also not spared and that official documents were forcibly taken away.
Banerjee further alleged that CCTV cameras were turned off during the incident, raising concerns about transparency. She said she had demanded that counting be halted until normalcy was restored, but her concerns were not adequately addressed.
Claims of voter list manipulation
Banerjee also accused authorities of manipulating voter lists, alleging that nearly 90 lakh names were deleted during the revision process. She claimed that after legal intervention, around 32 lakh names were restored, suggesting irregularities in the electoral roll management.
Additionally, she alleged direct interference from top central leadership, stating that both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister were involved in influencing the election process. These claims, however, have not been independently verified.
Support from opposition leaders
Banerjee said that several leaders from the opposition INDIA bloc had extended their support following the election results. She mentioned receiving calls from senior leaders including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, who expressed concern over the developments.
She also named leaders such as Arvind Kejriwal, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav and Hemant Soren as having reached out in solidarity.
According to Banerjee, the unity among opposition parties would remain strong in the coming days. She added that Akhilesh Yadav is expected to visit soon, with other leaders likely to follow.
Conclusion
Mamata Banerjee’s remarks have intensified the political debate surrounding the West Bengal election results. While her allegations of electoral misconduct and violence raise serious questions, they are likely to trigger responses from the Election Commission and the BJP in the coming days. As the situation unfolds, the controversy underscores the importance of transparency and trust in the democratic process.