Mamata cites Bangladesh's "peaceful polls", questions what is happening in India

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) during a press conference at Nabanna on Tuesday. She questioned the "double standards" regarding resident certificates, asking why documents approved by state authorities in Bihar are being rejected in Bengal. Terming the Commission's actions "Tughlaqi," she expressed strong resentment over the recent suspension of seven state officials, accusing the poll body of acting at the behest of "landlords in Delhi."

The Chief Minister also drew sharp comparisons between the electoral processes in India and Bangladesh. She noted that while elections in Bangladesh were conducted with relative peace, the situation in India remains volatile due to political interference. Mamata alleged that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is being used to strip the rights of minorities, the poor, and the younger generation under the guise of "logical discrepancies."

Addressing the political fate of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Mamata held the BJP responsible for his current situation. She claimed that the ruling party at the Centre uses individuals for their own gains and then leaves them in a lurch. She further warned that her party believes in constitutional democracy but will not hesitate to retaliate if the rights of the people are snatched away before the elections.