Suvendu Adhikari hits back at CM Mamata, alleges voter list manipulation and EC intimidation

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, along with 14 BJP MLAs and state election convener Shishir Bajoria, met West Bengal’s Election Commission officials on Wednesday and submitted a letter alleging electoral misconduct by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The delegation accused her of interfering in the election process and pressuring officials handling voter lists.

Adhikari claimed that Mamata Banerjee had instructed Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) and District Magistrates (DMs) on electoral matters, which he said was beyond her jurisdiction. He further alleged that the Chief Minister had accused Election Commission officials of accepting bribes and had directed them to manipulate voter rolls. "The Chief Minister has told some Election Commission officials to accept packets, implying bribery," Adhikari stated.

The BJP delegation raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the voter list, stating that they had earlier submitted a report containing details of 16 lakh "bogus" names before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. They claimed that the Election Commission removed 8 lakh of those names but insisted that more scrutiny was needed. Adhikari also alleged that extremist-linked individuals had been added to the voter list and demanded immediate action.

Addressing recent comments made by Mamata Banerjee regarding voters from Gujarat and Haryana, Adhikari called her claims misleading. He cited the Election Commission’s clarification that discrepancies in EPIC card numbers were due to minor errors and would be rectified. Additionally, he accused the state government of targeting Hindi-speaking voters in Bhabanipur, alleging an attempt to remove them from electoral rolls.

The BJP leader further alleged that Trinamool Congress was holding meetings across multiple districts to influence voter list revisions. He also raised concerns over a virtual meeting held by Manoj Pant, an official from Nabanna, with district magistrates regarding voter cards, questioning its legality. "We will file a complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner," Adhikari said. The delegation called for strict action against any unlawful interference in the electoral process.