Get lost vs shouting claims: Trinamool, EC meet sparks political storm in Bengal

A meeting between the Trinamool Congress and the Election Commission has snowballed into a political controversy, with the party claiming Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar told its delegation to “get lost” within minutes of the interaction beginning.

TMC MP Derek O Brien said the meeting lasted only a few minutes.

“Today, we went to the Chief Election Commissioner. He told us ‘get lost’ within 7 minutes of the meeting. The meeting started at 10:02 am and ended at 10:07 am,” he said.

Brien said the delegation questioned the Election Commission over transfer of officials and raised concerns about the conduct of free and fair elections.

“When we told him that you are transferring officials, and how you would want to conduct a free and fair election? And then he said, leave from here,” he said.

He described the exchange as deeply concerning. “What I saw today is a shame,” he added.

MAMATA BANERJEE LETTERS AND NANDIGRAM ISSUE RAISED

According to the TMC, the meeting began with the delegation raising nine letters sent by party chief Mamata Banerjee that had not received any response.

They also flagged alleged interactions between Election Commission officials and BJP supporters in Nandigram.

“The meeting started with us raising the issue of nine letters written by Mamata Banerjee. No response sent,” Brien said earlier.

He added that the delegation objected to the functioning of the commission, saying they did not want to hear from the CEC if other election commissioners were not allowed to speak.

“We told CEC Gyanesh Kumar, we don’t want to listen to you as you don’t allow other two commissioners speak,” he said.

‘RELEASE VIDEO OR AUDIO’, TMC CHALLENGES EC

The TMC has challenged the Election Commission to make public the proceedings of the meeting.

“I challenge the Election Commissioner to release the video or audio of what happened today,” Brien said.

He also said one member of the delegation congratulated the CEC for being the only one in India to face removal notices in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

WAR OF WORDS ESCALATES

The confrontation escalated further as Derek O Brien accused the poll body of leaking selective accounts of the meeting and referred to narratives being circulated through informal channels.

He also described the Chief Election Commissioner as a “criminal,” intensifying the political attack.

INDIA BLOC TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE

Brien said that like-minded opposition parties would address a joint press conference later in the day.

“On that issue, today, all like-minded anti-BJP parties together are having a press conference at 4-4:30 in the evening,” he said.

The briefing is scheduled at the Constitution Club and is expected to focus on the impeachment push against the CEC.

ELECTION COMMISSION SOURCES REJECT ALLEGATIONS

Sources within the Election Commission denied the TMC’s claims and offered a different account of the meeting.

According to these sources, Derek O Brien raised his voice and asked the Chief Election Commissioner not to speak.

They said he told the CEC, “We are not here to listen to you,” after which the situation escalated.

The sources added that the TMC delegation issued a warning and then walked out of the meeting.

- Ends