‘Undeclared Emergency’: Mamata accuses ECI, BJP of ‘deliberate design to seize control’ of Bengal

Accusing the ECI of staging “a calculated attempt to cripple Bengal’s administrative machinery’, she added, “The systematic politicisation of institutions meant to remain impartial is a direct assault on the Constitution. At a time when a deeply flawed SIR [Special Intensive Revision] process is underway and over 200 lives have already been lost, the conduct of the Commission reflects a clear bias and an uncomfortable submission to political interests, continuing to put the people of Bengal at risk.”

The final voters’ list after the contentious SIR in the state has seen over 63 lakh deletions and over 60 lakh voters being placed “under adjudication”.

“Supplementary electoral rolls are still not published, in clear disregard of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directions, leaving citizens anxious and uncertain. Meanwhile, senior officers from critical agencies like IB, STF and CID are being selectively removed and dispatched out of the state, pointing to a calculated attempt to cripple Bengal’s administrative machinery,” Banerjee added.

She also attacked the BJP, saying, “Why is the BJP so desperate? Why this relentless targeting of Bengal and its people? What satisfaction do they derive from forcing citizens, even after 78 years of Independence, to stand in queues and prove their own citizenship?”

Banerjee alleged that this was “a deliberate design”. “What we are witnessing is nothing short of an undeclared emergency and an unpromulgated form of President’s Rule driven by political vendetta, not democratic principles. Having failed to win the trust of Bengal’s people, the BJP is now attempting to capture the state through coercion, intimidation, manipulation and the misuse of institutions,” she said.

Banerjee had written to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar earlier, protesting the “sweeping” transfers and calling the move “a matter of deep concern and surprise”. She had also asked him to “refrain from adopting such unilateral measures in the future”.

“The contradictions in the Commission’s actions expose its complete collapse of credibility. It claims that removed officers should not be assigned election duties, yet within hours, the same officers are sent out as election observers. The appointment of the Commissioners of Police of Siliguri and Bidhannagar as observers, without even putting replacements in place, left two vital urban centres effectively headless. It was only after this glaring lapse came to light that rushed corrections followed. This is not governance. It reflects chaos, confusion and sheer incompetence being passed off as authority,” she said in her post.

“I stand in complete solidarity with every officer of the Government of West Bengal and their families, who are being targeted simply for serving the state with honesty and commitment. Bengal has never bowed to intimidation and it never will,” she added.