As Mamata heads to Delhi for INDIA meet, Suvendu Adhikari’s ‘Dimagi Naxals’ jab

Banerjee spoke to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and CPIM general secretary MA Baby on joint steps against the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar shortly after the Indian Express report on the divide within the Election Commission was published.

TMC chief Mamata Banerjee in Delhi on Tuesday. (Express photo by Anil Sharma)

The September 23 report said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had, on at least 14 occasions over 10 months, formally raised objections to Special Intensive Revision (SIR)-related decisions taken without their knowledge, as well as to significant gaps in the process.

Both CPIM and Mamata Banerjee have pushed for outreach and inclusion of youth-led Cockroach Janata Party and other non-aligned factions for a broader anti-BJP and anti-EC campaign.

‘Petty politics of convenience’

Adhikari also criticised over Congress’s “double standards” on SIR, saying its “opportunistic alliance partners stand completely exposed once again”.

“When it comes to constitutional bodies and established electoral procedures like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the Congress follows a singular, shameless doctrine: Heads I win, tails the system is rigged,” the Bengal CM said in a post on X.

“Look at the glaring duplicity: In Kerala, where the Congress-led front locked horns with the Left to capture power, their leaders were all praises for the rigorous Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. They championed the purging of bogus entries, credited the meticulous cleanup of rolls for leveling the playing field, and hailed institutional vigilance when it facilitated their victory and ousted the Left. When the process helps them win, it is celebrated as a ‘triumph of grassroots democracy’,” Adhikari wrote.

“Yet, the moment the very same Special Intensive Revision (SIR) takes place in states where Congress and its allies face inevitable defeat, the script flips overnight: When they win: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process is objective, robust and proof of a thriving democracy. When they lose: The exact same institutional mechanism suddenly becomes “manipulated,” “flawed” and targeted,” Adhikari added.

The Bengal CM said it was “nothing but the petty politics of convenience”. “You cannot selectively trust institutions only when the results suit your political fortunes.”

“The People of West Bengal and the rest of the nation see right through this facade. A political entity that lacks the courage to accept people’s rejection cannot hide behind frivolous attacks on routine democratic procedures. Hypocrisy has a limit, but for the Congress and its allies, duplicity remains their only permanent policy!” he added.

On Wednesday, INDIA bloc leaders will meet to coordinate a joint strategy against Kumar and address concerns regarding the SIR of electoral rolls and alleged voter deletions.

The Opposition alliance aims to unify its stance on electoral and democratic concerns and map out a joint course of action.

It is also learnt that the INDIA bloc is planning to launch a fresh push to move an impeachment motion against Kumar. It is drafting a notice to be submitted to both Houses of Parliament.