Mamata Banerjee’s Fiery Attack on BJP and ECI
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee launched a blistering critique against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday, alleging a conspiracy to disenfranchise voters before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. At a Kolkata rally under her “Save India Rally (SIR) 2.0” campaign, Banerjee warned that the Narendra Modi government would “collapse like a house of cards” if even one eligible voter was unlawfully removed.
Allegations of Voter Suppression
Banerjee accused the ECI of bias, claiming it was purging legitimate voters—especially from minority and marginalized communities—in opposition-ruled states like West Bengal and Assam.
“Who gave the BJP the authority to decide who votes? If one genuine voter is erased, democracy is under attack. The Modi regime will fall when people realize their votes are being stolen,” she declared.
Election Commission’s Neutrality Questioned
The TMC leader slammed the ECI for allegedly acting under BJP pressure, citing discrepancies in voter lists.
“The ECI is constitutionally bound to be impartial, but under Modi, it’s a BJP puppet. Why are names vanishing only where the BJP is weak? This is voter suppression,” she charged.
BJP’s Counterattack
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra dismissed Banerjee’s claims as fear-mongering, asserting that voter list updates followed due process to remove duplicates, fake, or deceased entries.
“Mamata is deflecting from her own failures in Bengal. The ECI operates transparently,” Patra retorted.
Opposition Rallies Behind Mamata
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav backed Banerjee, demanding a nationwide voter list audit.
“The BJP aims to win by eliminating voters, not votes,” Gandhi tweeted. Yadav added, “Mamata is exposing a dangerous conspiracy against democracy.”
Legal Experts Weigh In
Former CEC S.Y. Quraishi emphasized that while cleaning electoral rolls is necessary, arbitrary deletions without verification violate constitutional rights.
TMC’s Next Steps
Banerjee announced a statewide drive to verify voter enrollments and threatened legal action against the ECI if irregularities continue. Analysts say her stance could strengthen Opposition unity ahead of 2024.
Conclusion
As the 2024 elections approach, Banerjee’s allegations have intensified political tensions, with voter rights emerging as a central issue. The ECI’s response could shape public trust in the electoral process.
