Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar faced protests in Kolkata on Monday, morning as demonstrators waved black flags and raised “go back” slogans near the Kalighat Temple, where he had arrived to offer prayers. Kumar, who is in the city on a three-day visit to review poll preparedness ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, was accompanied by the state’s Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal at the temple. Police personnel quickly intervened and brought the situation under control, allowing the Chief Election Commissioner to proceed with his visit.
A group of protesters had gathered outside the temple even before Kumar arrived. Holding black flags, they shouted slogans against the Election Commission and criticised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. After offering prayers, Kumar briefly addressed reporters while leaving the temple, saying, “My greetings to all the brothers and sisters of West Bengal. May Mother Kali keep everyone well.”
The protest at Kalighat was the second such demonstration during Kumar’s ongoing visit. On Sunday night, shortly after he landed in Kolkata with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, protesters greeted the convoy with black flags and “go back” slogans along the route from the airport to his hotel in New Town. Supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) as well as activists from Left parties staged separate demonstrations. Some Left activists were heard chanting “No Voters, No Vote”.
Kumar and the other Election Commission officials are in West Bengal to assess the state’s preparedness for the upcoming Assembly elections. During the visit, they are scheduled to hold meetings with political parties, enforcement agencies and senior administrative officials, including the chief secretary and the director general of police.
The protests come amid a political controversy over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state. The ruling TMC has alleged that the exercise has led to the deletion of legitimate voters. According to official figures released on February 28, around 63.66 lakh names, about 8.3 per cent of the electorate, have been removed since the revision began in November last year. The total number of voters has reportedly declined from around 7.66 crore to just over 7.04 crore. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has described the situation as an “unprecedented and direct assault” on the foundations of India’s democracy.
