Kolkata, 20 April (H.S.) : Ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has approached the Calcutta High Court alleging that the Election Commission is preparing to arrest nearly 800 of its workers across the state.

The matter was mentioned on Monday before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Parthasarathi Sen. The court granted permission for filing the petition, and the matter is likely to be heard on Wednesday.

Appearing for TMC supporters, senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee told the bench that the Election Commission had allegedly directed police to prepare lists of TMC workers from various Assembly constituencies. He claimed there were apprehensions that these individuals could be arrested, and sought urgent judicial intervention.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also raised similar allegations during recent campaign rallies, accusing authorities of conspiring to arrest TMC leaders, workers and booth agents ahead of polling. She has reportedly asked the party organisation to keep alternative arrangements ready.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has intensified preventive measures to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections. Administrative sources said more than 200,000 potential troublemakers have so far been taken into preventive custody across the state, in what is being described as an unprecedented drive.

Additionally, ahead of the first phase of polling, 135 identified criminals were arrested in a single night. Those detained were reportedly from Cooch Behar, South 24 Parganas, Malda and Murshidabad districts.

The upcoming High Court hearing is now being closely watched by both political and administrative circles.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh