With less than two weeks to go for Assembly elections in West Bengal, the Election Commission of India has issued a strong and direct warning to the ruling All India Trinamool Congress, emphasising that the upcoming polls must be conducted in a completely free and fair manner.
In what it described as “straight-talk”, the Election Commission cautioned against any form of electoral malpractice, including booth capturing, booth jamming, and what it termed “source jamming”, referring to obstruction of voter mobilisation or access. The poll body made it clear that the elections must be fear-free, violence-free, intimidation-free, and devoid of inducements or coercion.
The election authority wrote on X. “This time, the elections in West Bengal would surely be: Fear-free, Violence-free, Intimidation-free, Inducement-free and without any Raid, Booth Jamming and Source Jamming.”
The Commission’s remarks triggered strong reactions from opposition and regional leaders. TMC leader Mahua Moitra compared the warning to an ultimatum, drawing a parallel with global political rhetoric. Meanwhile, party MP Saket Gokhale sharply criticised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the poll body of bias and questioning whether similar language would be used against the BJP.
West Bengal has a long history of election-related violence, making the Commission’s warning particularly significant. During the 2021 Assembly elections, over 1,300 incidents of violence were reported, with at least 25 deaths and thousands of injuries and complaints. Reports have indicated that electoral clashes and intimidation have remained a persistent concern in the state over the past two decades.
Tensions between the TMC and the Election Commission have been escalating in recent weeks. A recent meeting between a TMC delegation and the Commission reportedly ended in a heated exchange, highlighting the growing mistrust between the two sides.
The TMC has also raised concerns over the transfer of 483 officials, including senior police and administrative officers, alleging that the move could influence the electoral process. However, the Commission has defended the transfers, stating that they are necessary to ensure neutrality and prevent any possibility of violence or bias during polling.
Another major flashpoint has been the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The TMC has alleged that the exercise disproportionately removed voters and favoured the BJP. According to the party, around 27 lakh names have been deleted from a pool of 60 lakh under review, reducing the total electorate in the state significantly.
The Election Commission, however, maintains that the revision process is aimed at ensuring accuracy and transparency in the voter list.
Voting in West Bengal will be conducted in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4. As political rhetoric intensifies and administrative measures tighten, the upcoming election is shaping up to be a crucial test for both the ruling party and the Election Commission’s ability to ensure peaceful polls.
