This is an archive article published on February 28, 2025
West Bengal LoP Adhikari writes to Chief Election Commissioner against CM Mamata’s ‘EC full of BJP people’ comment
‘She very well knows that your appointment has been made as per… the ‘Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023’,’ Adhikari said in a letter to CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Suvendu Adhikari “requested” the CEC to take cognisance of what he called a “the deliberate attempt to malign the Election Commission of India. (File photo)
Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, on Friday wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar complain against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s statement about Kumar’s appointment.
“The Trinamool Congress chief accused the BJP of trying to influence electoral processes in the country by filling up positions such as the Chief Election Commissioner with ‘BJP people’, and that by doing so, the BJP is trying to influence the Election Commission of India,” he wrote.
Waving a list containing names of alleged fake voters, the TMC supremo had said, “I have examples from all districts. Here it is. Names of people from Haryana and Gujarat are there with names of Bengal residents and with the same EPIC card. Fake voters are being added online.”
“I had respect for the Election Commission. But now it seems they are filled with BJP-minded people,” she said, “If required, we will protest indefinitely in front of the EC office to demand the removal of fake names from the voter roll.”
Along with the letter, Adhikari attached a video clip (a translated version in English) of the relevant portion of the Chief Minister’s speech where she was heard referring to the CEC’s appointment.
He wrote, “I would like to bring to your attention that the Chief Minister of West Bengal Smt Mamata Banerjee… questioned your appointment as the Chief Election Commissioner.”
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Adhikari wrote, “She very well knows that your appointment has been made as per the provisions of the new law — the ‘Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023’. The law specifies that the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and a Union Minister nominated by the Prime Minister would be the members of the Selection panel for appointing the CEC or ECs, which (would) be done by embracing a bipartisan and neutral collegium-based appointment system. Previously, the norm was that the senior-most Election Commissioner (would be) elevated as CEC, which could have been followed while elevating you as well because you were the senior-most after the outgoing CEC Shri Rajiv Kumar. However, the new law mandated the selection process… the Selection Panel considered other names too before finalising your name.”
He added, “It isn’t possible that… Banerjee is unaware that the Election Commission had already clarified that there was no irregular pattern in voter deletions in… Maharashtra as alleged by the Congress party and a rule-based process was followed with transparency in preparation of the electoral rolls. The (ECI) on December 24, 2024 rejected the baseless charges brought by the Congress as ‘factually incorrect and misleading’ and the Congress’s claims of ‘arbitrary deletion’ and ‘subsequent addition’ in electoral rolls and ruled out any discrepancies in voter turnout data in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.”
Adhikari “requested” the CEC to take cognisance of what he called a “the deliberate attempt to malign the Election Commission of India and bring disrepute to the constitutional authority by making false accusations with the motive to tarnish its image among the public.”
Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain.
Experience
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express.
Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news.
Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions.
Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal.
Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla.
Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent.
Education
Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting.
Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University.
Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More
