- TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee’s remark against Chief Election Commissioner sparks controversy
- Comment made during rally protesting electoral roll deletions in West Bengal
- BJP slams statement, calling it an attack on constitutional institutions
- Over 63 lakh names deleted from voter list after Special Intensive Revision
GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 6th March: Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee triggered a political controversy on Friday after making a controversial remark against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during a rally in Kolkata.
Addressing supporters during protests against alleged arbitrary deletions in electoral rolls following the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the Serampore MP accused the poll panel chief of behaving improperly with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Referring to an alleged meeting between the Chief Minister and the Chief Election Commissioner in New Delhi last month, Banerjee claimed that Kumar had behaved “very badly” and raised his finger at the Chief Minister.
“If he had not been the CEC, I would have cut his finger that day,” Banerjee said, a remark that immediately drew strong reactions from political circles.
Opposition leaders condemned the statement, calling it inappropriate language directed at a constitutional authority.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suvendu Adhikari criticised the remark, saying it reflected the ruling party’s attitude towards democratic institutions.
“The remarks reflect the mindset of the TMC, which has no regard for democracy or constitutional institutions,” Adhikari said.
Banerjee has been among the most vocal critics of the Election Commission over the recent revision of voter lists in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Earlier this month, the TMC MP raised concerns over delays in adjudicating cases linked to the voter list revision, claiming that lakhs of cases remain pending despite directions from the Supreme Court.
The political row comes amid growing tensions between the Trinamool Congress and the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state.
According to official data released on February 28, about 63.66 lakh names — nearly 8.3 percent of the electorate — have been deleted since the revision process began in November last year. The total number of voters in the state has reportedly fallen from around 7.66 crore to just over 7.04 crore.
Additionally, more than 60.06 lakh electors have been placed under the “under adjudication” category, meaning their eligibility will be determined through legal scrutiny in the coming weeks.
The developments are expected to have a major impact on electoral dynamics in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
