Kolkata, 09 March (H.S.) : The All India Trinamool Congress on Sunday levelled serious allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following a meeting between the full bench of the Election Commission of India and representatives of political parties in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

State minister Chandrima Bhattacharya claimed that during the meeting she was reprimanded and asked to remain quiet by the Chief Election Commissioner, a remark that she said left her deeply dissatisfied.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Bhattacharya said that when she tried to present her views, the Chief Election Commissioner asked her to “don’t shout.” She alleged that the comment reflected a lack of respect toward women. According to her, if a woman’s name is missing from the electoral rolls, it should be the responsibility of the Commission to clarify the matter rather than forcing citizens to stand in long queues to prove their citizenship.

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, who was part of the Trinamool delegation, also launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party. He alleged that the BJP had created a perception that West Bengal had become a hub for Rohingya refugees and illegal infiltrators, based on which policies were framed.

Hakim further claimed that the process linked to verification of citizenship and electoral roll revision had caused unnecessary hardship to ordinary people, with many forced to stand in long queues for hours. He alleged that while no concrete evidence of infiltration had emerged during the past two months, genuine Indian citizens were being harassed.

He also claimed that several people had fallen ill during the process and that some deaths had been reported, urging the Commission to ensure that no Indian citizen is deprived of their rights.

Meanwhile, Pradip Bhattacharya of the Indian National Congress said the party’s primary concern was ensuring security and fairness in the electoral process. He stated that whether the elections are held in one phase or multiple phases is secondary, as long as the voting is conducted in a free, fair and secure manner.

The Election Commission’s full bench is currently in West Bengal to review preparations for the upcomingupcomingT Assembly elections and is holding meetings with political parties and administrative officials to discuss the election process and issues related to the voters’ list.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh