Political tensions ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections intensified on Monday after Mahua Moitra launched a sharp attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over his public gesture during his visit to the state capital.
The Trinamool Congress MP criticised the Chief Election Commissioner after he waved to people upon arriving in Kolkata on Sunday for a three-day visit aimed at reviewing election preparedness in West Bengal, where Assembly elections are expected within the next two months.
Taking to the social media platform X, Moitra mocked the gesture and questioned the appropriateness of the CEC’s conduct during an official pre-election visit.
“Hello @ECISVEEP what’s with the rockstar style waving? You’re a CEC on a full bench pre-election visit on taxpayer money. Hold your horses till you get that BJP election ticket at least!” Moitra wrote in her post.
The Election Commission delegation is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with senior officials of the West Bengal government as well as representatives of various political parties during the visit to assess preparations for the polls.
Meanwhile, protests erupted during the CEC’s arrival in the city. According to reports, several members of the ruling Trinamool Congress waved black flags and raised slogans against the Election Commission of India while Gyanesh Kumar was travelling by road from the airport to his hotel.
Security personnel deployed in large numbers barricaded the protesters and prevented them from approaching the main road through which the CEC’s convoy was moving. Despite the demonstrations, Kumar safely reached his destination without any disruption to his schedule.
The visit comes at a crucial time as the Election Commission begins its on-ground review of poll arrangements in the state ahead of the high-stakes Assembly elections. Political rhetoric between the ruling TMC and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has already intensified, with both sides accusing each other of attempting to influence the electoral process.
