TMC Accuses Election Commission of Politically Motivated Vehicle Check Orders via WhatsApp
In a significant development ahead of crucial elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday made serious allegations against the Election Commission of India, claiming it had issued instructions through WhatsApp messages directing police observers and central forces to conduct vehicle checks on all state government protectees. This controversial directive reportedly includes TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and his wife among those targeted for inspection.
WhatsApp Screenshots Reveal Selective Enforcement
The political party presented screenshots of alleged WhatsApp communications that explicitly ordered security checks on all politicians under government protection coverage. Interestingly, while the instructions encompass Union ministers and numerous state leaders, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was conspicuously excluded from this mandatory verification process according to the shared evidence.
The screenshots further referenced intelligence concerns about "significant amounts of cash entering the state during daytime hours," specifically mentioning border routes through Jharkhand and Bihar, as well as entry points from neighboring Nepal. This additional context suggests the vehicle checks are purportedly aimed at intercepting potential illegal cash flow during the election period.
TMC Leadership Condemns "Politically Motivated" Actions
Addressing journalists at a press conference, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh launched a scathing attack on what he described as politically driven maneuvers. "The BJP knows its defeat is certain in Bengal. Trinamool is poised to return to office under Mamata Banerjee's leadership with an overwhelming majority," Ghosh asserted. "This realization is causing panic within their ranks, leading to brutal attacks against us through institutional misuse."
Ghosh elaborated on his allegations, stating, "They have systematically attacked Bengali language, targeted our cultural icons, and deleted legitimate voters through summary revision processes. Now, recognizing their impending electoral loss despite these tactics, they have instructed police observers and central forces to conduct highly visible checks on all protectees—including their own ministers, our leader Abhishek Banerjee, and his wife—in what amounts to public harassment."
State Ministers Decry "Autocratic" Measures
West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu joined the criticism, characterizing the alleged instructions as "autocratic and brazen" attempts to intimidate political opponents. "The BJP is attempting to create an atmosphere of fear and terror through what I call the double Es—the Election Commission and the Enforcement Directorate," Basu declared during his remarks.
The minister questioned the selective application of security measures, asking pointedly, "If the Election Commission possesses such detailed intelligence about cash movements, why aren't they intercepting these funds before they enter Bengal's territory?" He further suggested the ruling party at the center was specifically targeting Abhishek Banerjee because they recognize they cannot defeat Mamata Banerjee through conventional political means.
Calls for Equal Application of Security Protocols
Ghosh raised additional concerns about inconsistent enforcement, questioning why vehicles belonging to prominent BJP leaders were apparently exempt from similar scrutiny. "Individuals arriving from outside the state should undergo identical verification procedures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other BJP leaders have been traveling extensively with large security convoys throughout the region. Why shouldn't those vehicles be subjected to the same level of inspection being demanded for others?" he challenged.
The allegations come at a sensitive juncture in West Bengal's political landscape, with the TMC positioning itself against what it perceives as institutional overreach and partisan application of election protocols. The party's leadership maintains that these developments reflect growing desperation among political opponents facing what they describe as inevitable electoral defeat in the upcoming polls.
