TMC Accuses Election Commission of 'Silent Invisible Rigging' in Bengal
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission (EC), accusing it of engaging in "silent invisible rigging" to favor what it termed "Delhi's zamindars." This accusation follows the release of the final Special Intensive Revision (SIR) list, which has sparked controversy by marking the name of Amdanga's sitting MLA as "under adjudication" and deleting the names of a councillor and his mother from the electoral rolls.
Allegations of Electoral Roll Manipulation
The TMC, which has been protesting the SIR exercise for the past 116 days, has urged its booth-level workers to assist affected voters in filing Form 6 for re-enrolment before the upcoming elections. The party claims that the process is riddled with errors and deliberate omissions aimed at disenfranchising genuine voters.
In Amdanga, MLA Rafiqur Rahaman found his name listed as "under adjudication." Rahaman stated, "The matter is now being examined by judicial magistrates. The documents are being verified. I believe my name will certainly appear in the supplementary list."
Meanwhile, in Naihati Municipality's ward no. 4, councillor Sushanta Sarkar and his mother Arati Sarkar discovered their names had been "deleted" from the rolls. Naihati MLA Sanat Dey reacted sharply, saying, "We believe this entire episode is a conspiracy. We will not accept this farce in the name of SIR."
TMC Spokesperson Kunal Ghosh's Accusations
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh labeled the SIR as a BJP ploy, alleging that the BJP aimed to replicate electoral roll conspiracies previously carried out in states like Bihar, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Haryana. "They wanted to repeat that conspiracy in Bengal because they fear Mamata Banerjee. But here, they are being challenged," Ghosh asserted.
He elaborated on the emerging issues, stating, "In fact, the mess is so extensive—according to the information I collected—that booth-level officers (BLOs) themselves are saying that even after they submitted all required documents, names are being struck off electoral rolls. The BLOs are wondering how they will face citizens who will now blame them for this mess."
Ghosh highlighted specific anomalies, such as a living woman being marked as deceased while her deceased mother-in-law remains on the list. "Our party is monitoring everything and we will issue a statement when required," he added.
Social Media Amplification and Further Criticisms
The TMC's official X handle amplified these charges, posting, "The full, filthy extent of the BJP's and EC's silent invisible rigging now stands exposed before Bengal's eyes. In the final electoral rolls, Naihati Municipality ward no. 4 councillor Sushanta Sarkar and his mother, Arati Sarkar, are deleted. An elected representative and his family erased like ghosts in this voter-purge conspiracy."
The post questioned the EC's role, asking, "Is the Election Commission wearing blinders, stumbling in the dark, unable to spot flesh-and-blood voters right under its nose? Or is this ‘Mr Vanish Kumar's' twisted vanishing act, where genuine voters are wiped out with a flick of a magic wand to rig the game for his Delhi Zamindars?"
Ghosh also dismissed the BJP's narrative about "lakhs of Rohingya" as a "gas balloon," targeting deletions in TMC strongholds like Bhowanipore. "The BJP's only aim is to try and snatch citizenship. Once the results come out, they will realise their folly," he said.
Broader Implications and Party Stance
The TMC has positioned itself as a watchdog in this controversy, with Ghosh emphasizing, "In every possible area, for every man and woman, and family to family, the Trinamool Congress acted as a watchdog, standing with every genuine citizen. Trinamool will continue to stand by them."
This incident underscores the heightened political tensions in Bengal as elections approach, with the TMC alleging systematic attempts to manipulate voter lists to disadvantage the party. The accusations of "silent invisible rigging" and references to "Delhi's zamindars" reflect the party's narrative of external interference in Bengal's electoral processes.
As the situation unfolds, the TMC has vowed to continue its protests and legal challenges, urging voters to verify their enrollment status and take corrective measures through Form 6. The party's aggressive stance signals a fierce battle over electoral integrity in the upcoming polls.
