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EYE ON INDIA MARCH 20, 2026 | The Indian Eye 6

West Bengal Politics Heats Up

Ahead of Polls as TMC Targets

Election Commission

With assembly elections approaching, a confrontation between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Election
Commission, coupled with BJP’s aggressive campaign push, has intensified the political climate in West Bengal.

OUR BUREAU to assess election logistics. Howev-
er, the visit also witnessed protests.
Kolkata / New Delhi
Demonstrators showed black flags
ith the West Bengal As- to the CEC’s convoy outside Kolkata
sembly elections expected airport, reflecting growing political
Win the first half of the year, polarisation in the state.
the state’s political atmosphere is Another protest occurred when
rapidly heating up, marked by esca- Kumar visited the Kalighat Temple,
lating confrontation between the rul- where security personnel had to man-
ing Trinamool Congress (TMC), the age demonstrators gathered outside
opposition Bharatiya Janata Party the premises. Addressing reporters
(BJP), and the Election Commission during the visit, Kumar kept his re-
of India (ECI). The latest flashpoint marks brief and largely ceremonial.
has emerged over the TMC’s move “My greetings to all the broth-
to initiate impeachment proceedings ers and sisters of West Bengal. May
against Chief Election Commissioner Goddess Kali bless everyone. Jai
(CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, a step that Bharat, Jai Hind,” he said.
underscores growing tensions around Election officials, however, em-
electoral processes in the state. phasised that preparations were
TMC leaders say the move re- proceeding normally. Subrata Gup-
flects deep dissatisfaction with the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the new State Governor ta, Special Roll Observer for West
conduct of the Election Commission, Bengal, said the focus remains on
particularly regarding the Special In- Ravindra Narayan Ravi at the swearing-in ceremony of the Governor at Lok Bhavan, Kolkata, ensuring a peaceful and transparent
tensive Revision (SIR) of electoral on Thursday (ANI Photo) electoral process.
rolls in West Bengal. The ruling party “In a democracy, everyone has
alleges that irregularities in the voter SP MP, Rajiv Rai, said concerns over the election commission. Contest in the right to protest,” Gupta said,
list revision have disenfranchised vot- the electoral roll had been raised ear- Pakistan or Bangladesh,” he said. adding that consultations with offi-
ers and created unrest on the ground. lier but ignored. BJP leader Dilip Ghosh echoed cials, political parties and the media
TMC MP Saugata Roy said the “We stand with the TMC on similar sentiments, accusing the would help finalise arrangements.
party is mobilising support across op- the impeachment motion. I was the TMC of attempting to manufacture “The election will be conducted in a
position ranks in Parliament to pur- one who raised my voice against the controversies to maintain political completely peaceful manner.”
sue the motion. “We are preparing Election Commission over the issue relevance. “To show their existence, Meanwhile, the BJP is acceler-
an impeachment motion against the of fifteen thousand names missing to save their existence, they are ating its campaign preparations. The
Chief Election Commissioner. More from the voters’ list and remained bringing all kinds of impeachments,” party’s Central Election Committee
than 100 MPs are supporting us. We unheard,” Rai said. he said, also pointing out that the op- has held meetings to finalise candi-
might submit it today. The Opposi- However, the BJP has dismissed position’s earlier no-confidence mo- dates for the upcoming polls, report-
tion will be seen united on this,” Roy the move as a political stunt aimed tion against the Lok Sabha Speaker edly discussing around 160 constitu-
told ANI. at deflecting attention from electoral had collapsed. encies and finalising candidates for
The impeachment effort comes challenges facing the ruling party in The dispute has unfolded along- nearly 145 seats out of the 294-mem-
after the opposition failed to push the state. side heightened political activity on ber assembly.
through a no-confidence motion Union Minister Sukanta Ma- the ground as the Election Commis- The convergence of these devel-
against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Bir- jumdar sharply criticised the TMC, sion intensifies preparations for the opments—parliamentary confronta-
la. Roy described that development questioning its trust in India’s dem- polls. Chief Election Commissioner tion over the Election Commission,
as a missed opportunity to challenge ocratic institutions. “TMC is raising Gyanesh Kumar recently visited Kol- protests during the CEC’s visit, and
what he described as procedural bi- questions on the Supreme Court kata along with Election Commis- the BJP’s aggressive campaign plan-
ases in Parliament. and the Election Commission. If sioners S.S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi ning—has set the stage for a politi-
Opposition parties have begun you don’t trust all of India’s consti- to review readiness for the upcoming cally charged contest in West Bengal.
expressing support for the move. tutional institutions, then questions elections. As the election approaches, the state
Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra arise about you. Then what’s the jus- The three-day visit included appears headed toward a high-stakes
Yadav indicated that his party stands tification for you contesting elections meetings with administrative offi- battle that could once again reshape
with the TMC on the issue. Another here? Go contest where you accept cials, political parties and the media its political landscape.

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