Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) following the decision to freeze the party's name and official symbol, while expressing her deep resentment, Banerjee termed this move as a black day in the history of Indian democracy. The development comes at a critical juncture, prompting the TMC leader to make significant political shifts, including an unexpected announcement regarding the Nandigram assembly constituency.
Support for Congress in Nandigram
In a major political development, Mamata Banerjee announced her support for the Congress party candidate in Nandigram, while this decision followed the withdrawal of nomination by the TMC candidate, Sanchita Pradhan Dey. Banerjee emphasized that this move is a testament to her commitment to the INDIA alliance, while she stated that in the broader interest of the INDIA alliance's unity, the TMC would back the Congress candidate in Nandigram. She reiterated that her party stands in solidarity with the alliance to take on the opposing forces.
Attack on Election Commission's Timing
Banerjee questioned the timing and the nature of the ECI's interim order, calling it illegal, while she pointed out that the order was issued after the nomination process had already been completed. She questioned why such a biased individual, who distributes sweets after winning elections, was allowed to oversee this process. "Why did this interim order, which is illegal, come only now? " she asked. Despite the setback, she expressed confidence in a comeback, stating that the party has responded due to the upcoming by-elections.
Commitment to the Party and Founder Status
Asserting her authority and emotional connection with the party, Mamata Banerjee declared that as long as she's alive, the All India Trinamool Congress will remain with her. She reminded everyone that she's the founder chairperson of the party and will never abandon it. She took a swipe at those who left the party, stating that those who betrayed the TMC have proven they never truly loved it. She also remarked that those involved in corruption did so at their own risk.
Allegations of Election Rigging and Misconduct
The Chief Minister made serious allegations regarding the conduct of previous elections. She claimed that the symbols of those who won elections four months ago have been declared invalid. She revealed that she received support from other national leaders, mentioning that Rahul Gandhi had called her and Arvind Kejriwal had posted a tweet in her support. She described the opposing party as one that engages in dirty, disgusting, and low-level activities.
Banerjee provided specific details about the alleged irregularities, stating that 92 lakh votes were removed and the margin of votes was 32 lakh. She accused the authorities of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to manipulate the election process, citing similar instances of rigging in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. She also questioned why 4000 EVM machines were burnt and why no investigation was conducted into the matter. She mentioned that she received information about the ECI's arrival at 12:45 PM while she was informed at 1 PM, noting that no one was present there at the time.
Comparisons and Personal Restrictions
Drawing parallels with other political parties, Banerjee noted that the ECI had taken similar actions against Uddhav Thackeray's party, the NCP, and the Shiv Sena. She claimed that the BJP had offered TMC a proposal for support, which she declined in the national interest. She alleged that the entire election process has been hijacked. Reflecting on the party's 29 year history, she expressed shock that a party she contributed to even while serving as an MP could have its name and symbol seized.
Also, she raised concerns about violence and personal freedom. Citing information from MP Dola Sen, she mentioned that 44 girls were raped and 48 were murdered. She alleged that the police are threatening TMC members and described the atrocities as horrific. Banerjee also claimed that she's currently under house arrest. Despite having served as a Union Minister, she lamented that she isn't even being granted the freedom of an ordinary citizen, questioning why the opposition remains so fearful even after a controversial victory.