Stories
Mamata Demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar's Arrest, Bengal Repoll Amid 'Scandalous' SIR Row
- •Mamata Banerjee called for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's arrest and a fresh election in Bengal with the old voter list, citing an Indian Express report on objections raised by other Election Commissioners.
- •The report detailed objections from Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi regarding decisions on electoral-roll management and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
- •Banerjee alleged that election machinery had been influenced by BJP-linked personnel and that the BJP and Election Commission had "looted" the Bengal Assembly polls.
- •The Trinamool Congress chief announced that INDIA bloc partners would meet soon to discuss the issue, with leaders like Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi also addressing the controversy.
- •The Election Commission rejected claims of internal rupture, stating that all decisions had the approval of all three Commissioners and that differences were a normal part of institutional deliberation.
Key Questions Answered
An Indian Express report revealed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally objected at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions and orders issued in the CEC's name without their knowledge. This prompted Mamata Banerjee and other opposition leaders to accuse the poll panel of major electoral scandals and call for Kumar's immediate arrest and ouster.
Mamata Banerjee demanded a fresh election in Bengal using the old voter list, alleging that the Assembly polls had been compromised and looted by the BJP and the Election Commission. She also announced that INDIA bloc partners would meet shortly to coordinate protests across India against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Election Commission rejected claims of an internal breakdown, stating that all its decisions had the approval of all three Commissioners. The poll panel maintained that official orders carried full legal sanction, differing views were normal parts of institutional deliberation, and the Commissioners' suggestions were meant to further improve electoral processes.
