In the wake of the Election Commission’s decision to replace West Bengal’s DGP Raveev Kumar with IPS Officer Vivek Sahay, Trinamool Congress escalated its criticism against the BJP-led Centre. Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien, a prominent figure within the party, called for Lok Sabha elections under the supervision of the Supreme Court, alleging that the BJP’s maneuvers were undermining the integrity of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
O’Brien lambasted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of subverting the electoral landscape prior to the Lok Sabha elections. He questioned whether the BJP’s apprehension of facing the electorate led them to wield undue influence over the ECI, effectively transforming it into a partisan entity. O’Brien’s sentiment was expressed in a post on a social media platform.
Earlier, TMC Spokesperson Kunal Ghosh also voiced discontent with the Union Government following the ECI’s decision to replace DGP Rajeev Kumar. Ghosh highlighted the BJP’s concerted efforts to assert control over various institutions, including the ECI, suggesting that the recent developments were indicative of the BJP’s agenda to manipulate such organizations.
The assertions made by Trinamool Congress leadership followed the replacement of West Bengal’s DGP Raveev Kumar with IPS Officer Vivek Sahay by the ECI in anticipation of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The ECI justified its actions, stating that the replacement of the Bengal DGP and Home Secretaries of six states aimed to ensure transparency, fairness, and freedom in the electoral process. Furthermore, the ECI issued directives for the removal of Home Secretaries in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
In addition, key officials in six states were relieved of their duties, signaling a decisive effort by the ECI to uphold the principles of equitable and transparent elections.
Furthermore, the Secretary of the General Administrative Department in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh were also dismissed from their positions. The Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal are scheduled to be conducted in seven phases commencing from April 19. In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, TMC secured victory in 22 seats with a vote share of 43.7 percent, while the BJP claimed victory in 18 seats with a vote share of 40.6 percent. The Congress secured two seats in the state.
