CM Mamata writes eighth letter to CEC, alleges “bias and overreach” by ECI

Mamata Banerjee has written her eighth letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, expressing strong objections to the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI) ahead of the Assembly elections. In the letter dated March 19, 2026, she alleged that the Commission has “crossed all boundaries of decency and constitutional propriety” and is acting with apparent bias during the ongoing electoral process.

The Chief Minister raised concerns over what she described as unilateral and large-scale transfers of senior administrative and police officials, including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director General of Police, and several District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police. She stated that these changes were carried out immediately after the announcement of elections without any allegations of Model Code of Conduct violations, thereby disrupting governance and administrative continuity across the state.

Banerjee also highlighted issues related to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, noting that supplementary electoral lists have not yet been published despite directions from the Supreme Court. She argued that the transfer of District Election Officers at this stage could hinder the disposal of pending cases, raising concerns over voters’ ability to file appeals within the limited timeframe.

In her letter, she further questioned the deployment of 15 senior police officers from the state as election observers in other poll-bound states without consultation or proper training. She termed the move arbitrary and contradictory, alleging it reflects a misuse of authority and interference in state affairs under Article 324 of the Constitution. She also warned that such decisions could weaken law and order management and disaster response mechanisms, especially during the storm-prone months of March and April.

Concluding the letter, Banerjee cautioned that such actions could create administrative instability and undermine democratic principles, likening the situation to an indirect imposition of central control. She urged the Election Commission to refrain from what she described as biased and unilateral decisions, emphasizing that the elected state government must be allowed to function effectively during the election period.