West Bengal’s political arena heated up as opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari unleashed a tirade against the Election Commission on Friday, alleging it was turning a blind eye to TMC activists’ rampage at Special Intensive Revision (SIR) centers. The BJP stalwart’s outburst comes amid a flurry of reports detailing violence and intimidation during hearings for draft voter list discrepancies in Kolkata and beyond.
Addressing the media, Adhikari didn’t mince words: ‘Issuing notices isn’t enough. Bengal’s citizens crave real action from the ECI, not empty words. Enough with the lectures—deploy forces now!’ He demanded immediate deployment of CAPF personnel at all verification sites, reminding the Commission of its constitutional authority to act unilaterally, including mobilizing the army if circumstances warrant.
The allegations aren’t isolated. BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya recently echoed similar sentiments, calling out the ECI’s perceived favoritism towards TMC and pressing for a CEC fact-finding visit to the state.
In a intriguing forecast for the year-end Assembly polls, Adhikari suggested a potential minority voter shift: ‘They might skip BJP, but TMC is off their list too this time.’ This statement could indicate cracks in TMC’s traditional support base, fueled by governance issues and alleged electoral malpractices.
With the SIR process under scrutiny, Adhikari’s provocative stance amplifies BJP’s narrative of a biased poll machinery. As the revision drive continues, the ECI faces mounting pressure to restore credibility and ensure unhindered democratic exercise in this politically charged state.