'Mamata Banerjee has no right to talk about democracy': BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad
Ravi Shankar Prasad hits back at Mamata Banerjee, questioning her right to talk about democracy citing atrocities in West Bengal.
In a sharp political confrontation, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ravi Shankar Prasad has launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Addressing the media on Friday, Prasad asserted that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader has "no right to talk about democracy and democratic rights," following her recent allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Allegations of Atrocities in West Bengal
The BJP leader's comments were a direct response to Banerjee's criticisms regarding the conduct of the 2026 state Assembly polls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Prasad highlighted what he described as systemic issues during the TMC's tenure in the state.
"I have witnessed the atrocities committed in Bengal under Mamata Banerjee's rule," Prasad told reporters. He specifically pointed to the Gram Panchayat elections, alleging that "people were not allowed to cast their votes or file nominations," and claimed that those who attempted to protest were subsequently jailed.
Mamata Banerjee's Allegations Against ECI
The tension between the two leaders follows a series of intense allegations made by the TMC chief. Mamata Banerjee has been vocal in her criticism of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of working to "deprive people of their rights."
During a recent press conference, Banerjee raised several serious claims, including:
- EVM Tampering: She alleged that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were "hacked" during the West Bengal Assembly elections, which resulted in a loss for the TMC.
- Security Concerns: Banerjee questioned the deployment of "large central forces" during elections, suggesting the security apparatus was used to influence the electoral outcome.
- EVM Destruction: She referred to a fire at a government building in Kolkata's Alipore area in June, where EVMs were destroyed, linking the incident to her broader concerns regarding election integrity.
- Counting Irregularities: The TMC leader claimed her party was leading by 53,000 votes during the counting process but alleged that security personnel prevented her agents from entering and that CCTV footage was blocked.
The SIR Process and Electoral Rolls
Beyond the voting process itself, Banerjee has raised alarms over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. She alleged that the process was designed to benefit the BJP and claimed that the current system has left Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) with "no authority," ultimately affecting the eligibility of voters on the electoral rolls.
This political standoff comes at a sensitive time, following a meeting of the INDIA bloc parties, where members strongly demanded the removal of Gyanesh Kumar from his position as Chief Election Commissioner.