In a dramatic escalation of its confrontation with the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday mounted a sharp attack on Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar after a delegation of ten party MPs met him in the national capital. Led by senior TMC leader and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien, the delegation submitted what they described as a “list of almost 40 people dead because of the SIR process,” referring to the Statewide Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Speaking to reporters immediately after the meeting, O’Brien delivered an explosive statement that intensified the party’s confrontation with the poll panel.

“…10 MPs from the All India Trinamool Congress met with the Chief Election Commissioner Mr Kumar and his team. We first handed over to him a list of almost 40 dead because of the SIR process… We started the meeting by telling him that Mr Kumar and the Election Commission of India have blood on their hands. We raised five questions… We did not get an answer to any of our five questions. That is the outline of what happened,” he said, quoting the party’s allegations directly and without dilution.