The political confrontation between West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress and the Election Commission of India reached new heights on Friday as both sides exchanged sharp words during a high-stakes meeting about the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The poll body delivered a strong rebuttal to the TMC's objections while issuing fresh directives to protect field officers from political pressure.
ECI's Firm Response to TMC Allegations
During the meeting attended by a 10-member TMC delegation, the Election Commission provided a point-by-point response to what it termed "each baseless allegation" raised by the party. Commission officials revealed that the TMC was instructed to wait until December 9 when the draft electoral rolls will be published before submitting any formal claims or objections.
The ECI emphasized that the TMC must not interfere with the independent functioning of Booth Level Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, and District Election Officers, all of whom are state government employees temporarily assigned to election duties. In a particularly strong directive, the Commission told the delegation "not to influence or threaten the BLOs regarding dead, shifted and duplicate voters."
Reaffirming constitutional principles, the Commission stated clearly that "As per Article 326 of the Constitution of India, foreigners cannot be allowed to vote," emphasizing that only Indian citizens are entitled to voting rights.
Enhanced Security Measures Implemented
Responding to recent incidents and concerns, the Election Commission has taken several significant steps to safeguard the revision process. The Commission has appointed a special roll observer for West Bengal specifically to oversee the SIR exercise.
In a crucial security move, the ECI has written to the Director General of Police of West Bengal and the Kolkata Police Commissioner, directing them to ensure that BLOs are not pressured or threatened by political workers during their duties. This directive comes amid circulating allegations about BLO deaths and overwork.
The Commission has also ordered the relocation of the Chief Electoral Officer's office to a more secure location following security breaches at the existing premises. The Kolkata Police Commissioner has been instructed to guarantee complete security for both the current and proposed office locations.
TMC's Internal Overhaul Amid Rising Tensions
Parallel to the external confrontation with the ECI, the Trinamool Congress has launched a major internal reorganization to tighten supervision of the SIR process at grassroots levels. Party insiders indicate that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's dissatisfaction with "uneven progress" triggered this strategic shake-up.
National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee has deployed nine senior leaders to various districts for on-ground monitoring, with instructions that reminded many of the party's intensive booth-level strategy during the 2021 Assembly elections. Leaders were told to "pack clothes for nine days, operate from the war room, not the party office" – signaling the seriousness of the mobilization effort.
During a closed-door meeting on Monday, Abhishek Banerjee reportedly identified several leaders including Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak and MLA Manoj Tiwari for inadequate field presence. He warned that insufficient engagement could create "avoidable political landmines" as West Bengal moves toward the 2026 election cycle.
The TMC leadership has already submitted one review report to the Chief Minister and is expected to deliver another comprehensive assessment on December 6, just three days before the draft electoral rolls publication.
