Kolkata, 09 March (H.S.): The All India Trinamool Congress on Monday alleged that West Bengal minister Chandrima Bhattacharya was reprimanded and asked to remain quiet during a meeting between the full bench of the Election Commission and representatives of political parties in Kolkata.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Bhattacharya claimed that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar interrupted her while she was speaking and told her “don’t shout”, which she said left her dissatisfied.

She alleged that such behaviour reflected a lack of respect towards women. Bhattacharya also said that if a woman’s name was missing from the voters’ list, it was the responsibility of the Election Commission to clarify the matter rather than asking people to stand in queues to prove their citizenship.

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, who was also part of the TMC delegation, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of portraying West Bengal as a haven for Rohingyas and illegal infiltrators, which he claimed had influenced the commission’s approach.

Hakim alleged that the ongoing verification process linked to citizenship and the revision of electoral rolls was causing unnecessary hardship to ordinary people, with many forced to stand in long queues.

He further claimed that no concrete evidence of infiltration had emerged during the past two months of the process but several Indian citizens had been inconvenienced.

Meanwhile, Indian National Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya said his party’s main concern was to ensure free and secure elections in the state.

“Whether the election is held in one phase or multiple phases is less important than ensuring that the polling process is conducted in a fair and secure manner,” he said.

The full bench of the Election Commission is currently in West Bengal to review preparations for the upcoming assembly elections and is holding meetings with political parties as well as senior officials of the state administration.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey