Bengal BJP Criticizes Election Commission's 'Soft Stance', Demands Immediate Action
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Election Commission of India's (EC) perceived "soft handling" of the state's electoral situation. The party has urgently called upon the poll panel to demonstrate concrete "action" rather than mere rhetoric, highlighting concerns over the ground reality in Bengal.
Call for CEC's Visit and Central Forces Deployment
In a significant move, the Bengal BJP has requested Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar to personally visit the state to understand the on-ground challenges. The party emphasized that the EC should leverage the assistance of central armed police forces during hearing processes to ensure security and fairness.
State Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, voiced the party's frustration, stating, "The Election Commission is taking a soft stance. It will not be useful in this state. They need to take action." He pointed to alleged "hindrances" encountered during the Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls (SIR) and accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of "muscle-flexing" to intimidate officials.
Questioning EC's Authority and Role
Adhikari further questioned the EC's reluctance to deploy central forces at hearing centres, asserting, "The Constitution of India has given EC the highest authority. If they want, they can deploy central forces without consulting anyone. But the EC's role, so far, has been restricted to letters only. People in the state want action and not speeches."
Earlier, Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya had also urged CEC Kumar to visit the state. Adhikari added that Kumar cannot function effectively alone, noting, "He needs the full bench to function properly. Three of them have to take a decision. The full bench should seek intervention of the Supreme Court."
Potential Legal Moves and Broader Context
With the TMC and EC already engaged in legal battles in the Supreme Court over SIR issues, Adhikari indicated that the BJP is prepared to take similar legal steps. He stated, "We can move the Supreme Court too," underscoring the party's readiness to escalate the matter if necessary.
This development highlights the ongoing political tensions in West Bengal, where the BJP is pushing for stricter electoral oversight to counter what it describes as intimidation and irregularities. The party's demands reflect a broader call for enhanced security measures and proactive intervention by constitutional bodies to uphold democratic processes in the state.
