Mamata Banerjee Accuses EC-BJP of Collusion in Kerala ‘BJP Seal’ Scandal
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused the Election Commission of India of bias after a BJP seal appeared on an official EC communication. She raised the allegation at Kolkata airport while traveling to north Bengal. Banerjee described the incident as evidence of an EC-BJP collusion and called it a serious scandal.
BJP seal on EC letter
Banerjee said the notification carried a BJP symbol and questioned the explanation that it was a clerical error. The Kerala chief electoral officer had attributed the mark to a clerical mistake. The CM stressed the notice covered all states and union territories, not only Kerala.
Supplementary voters’ lists and SIR controversy
The CM criticized the timing and handling of the first supplementary voters’ list. It was meant to be issued by last Saturday but was released at 11.45pm on Monday.
She said judicial officers had already reviewed documents for about 29 lakh people listed in the supplement. Banerjee asked why the Election Commission delayed publication by six to seven days after judges completed scrutiny.
Allegations on voter restoration
Banerjee alleged that individuals under adjudication were having voting rights restored via the supplementary lists. She linked the restoration to her decision to move the Supreme Court over the SIR process. She called the SIR process torturous and said it had caused serious distress.
She also cited at least two recent suicides and said SIR-related deaths had exceeded 200. The CM warned the delay and secrecy could allow partisan additions to the rolls.
Upcoming lists and contested figures
The Election Commission has said it will publish two more supplementary lists, one on Friday and another on April 3. Banerjee noted nearly 60 lakh cases remained under judicial scrutiny overall. She pressed for the full consolidated list based on the disposal of those cases.
Transfers and administrative moves
The chief minister criticized a late-night directive that replaced 73 returning officers. She observed that 60–70 IAS and IPS officers in Bengal had been transferred recently. Banerjee highlighted the transfer of the Nandigram BDO to Bhowanipore as an example.
She asked under whose instructions the EC was operating and accused the poll panel of enforcing BJP directives. The CM said such moves suggested a broader pattern of interference.
Call for political unity and media scrutiny
Banerjee urged all political parties to unite to protect democratic rights and ensure free and fair elections. She appealed for political differences to be set aside in the interest of the people. She also asked the media to examine the matter closely and to inform citizens about their voting status.
Reported by Filmogaz.com.
