TMC Leader Abhishek Banerjee Alleges Election Commission Violating Supreme Court Directives
In a significant development from Kolkata, Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India on Wednesday. The TMC leader presented purported WhatsApp chat screenshots as evidence, alleging that poll officials were openly flouting Supreme Court directives by continuing to issue instructions over the messaging application during the Special Summary Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal.
Specific Allegations Against Poll Observer
Banerjee's criticism was specifically directed at South 24 Parganas and south Kolkata special roll observer C Murugan. The TMC leader questioned whether the Election Commission believed that directions from the honorable Supreme Court could be openly disregarded. "The highest court of the land has repeatedly emphasised transparency, due process and adherence to official channels of communication," Banerjee wrote on social media platform X. "Yet we are witnessing instructions being circulated over WhatsApp rather than through formal, traceable and accountable mechanisms."
According to the allegations, Murugan was issuing WhatsApp directions to micro observers regarding the acceptability of birth certificates as valid documents. Banerjee claimed this move was aimed at increasing deletions from the electoral rolls, potentially disenfranchising legitimate voters. The TMC leader reminded the Election Commission of the Supreme Court's categorical directive that the role of micro-observers must remain strictly assistive rather than directive.
Broader Concerns About Electoral Process
In his detailed social media post, Banerjee raised additional concerns about potential misuse of login credentials belonging to roll observers. He alleged that while roll observers are designated district-wise, their login credentials were being accessed from a central location in Kolkata. "Login data is being misused to generate queries and specifically target a certain community at the direction of EC's political masters in Delhi," Banerjee claimed.
The TMC leader called for an independent examination of the matter, asserting that such an investigation would establish that the tower location and IP address of the login devices differed from the actual locations of the concerned roll observers. He warned that any person aligning themselves with or acting at the behest of what he termed "zamindars of Delhi" would face stringent and uncompromising legal action.
Political Context and TMC Delegation Action
These allegations emerged less than twenty-four hours after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the Election Commission as a "Tughlaqi commission" and accused it of acting at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party to manipulate voter lists. The political temperature has been rising steadily as electoral preparations intensify in the state.
A five-member Trinamool Congress delegation comprising prominent leaders Mahua Moitra, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Pratima Mondal, Partha Bhowmick and Bratya Basu visited the office of the Chief Electoral Officer to lodge a formal protest regarding these issues. Following their meeting, Basu informed reporters that the CEO had promised to look into the matter and address concerns about document submission procedures.
Specific WhatsApp Instructions Revealed
The purported WhatsApp chats presented by Banerjee revealed specific instructions allegedly issued by Murugan to Electoral Registration and Monitoring Officers (ERMOs) of South 24 Parganas. In one message, Murugan reportedly stated that birth certificates issued by panchayat pradhans were not acceptable as SIR documents. Another message indicated that permanent resident certificates or domicile certificates issued to non-Bengalis were only acceptable for appointments in the army or paramilitary forces, and not for other purposes during the SIR process.
When questioned about how internal Election Commission messages became public, TMC leader Mahua Moitra countered by asking why the commission was attempting to defend what she termed an illegality. "What they are doing is violation of SC mandate and we are only highlighting the violation," Moitra stated emphatically during discussions with the media.
Constitutional Implications and Future Actions
Banerjee emphasized the constitutional significance of the matter, stating that the Election Commission derives its legitimacy from public trust rather than political patronage. He warned that the TMC would pursue this matter before the Supreme Court, indicating that the party was prepared for a legal battle over what they perceive as serious violations of electoral procedures and Supreme Court directives.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and central election authorities as the state prepares for upcoming electoral processes. With both sides digging in their heels, the situation represents a significant test for electoral transparency and adherence to judicial directives in India's democratic framework.
