Election Commission Demands Video Evidence of Mamata Banerjee's Threats Against West Bengal Electoral Officer

Kolkata:

The Election Commission of India has requested the footage of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's threatening comments directed at West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), according to sources, just months before the eastern state prepares for new government elections.

On Thursday, Banerjee threatened to expose "corruption allegations" against CEO Manoj Agarwal if he exceeded his authority. She also claimed he had been intimidating her officers during an event attended by the state's Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and minister Aroop Biswas.

This marks the first instance since taking office in 2011 that Banerjee has leveled such serious accusations against a state election official.

Sources from the CEO's Kolkata office informed NDTV that the Election Commission has demanded the video clip of the Chief Minister's statements along with a translation by day's end. They added that any accusations against a state's CEO must be formally submitted to the Lokpal with supporting evidence.

This development comes less than 24 hours after BJP MLAs, led by Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari, submitted a formal request to the Election Commission seeking criminal charges against the Chief Minister for threatening the state's election authority head.

The BJP's letter, filed through the CEO, emphasized that such warnings attempt to undermine the fundamental principles of Indian democracy.

"When a state's Chief Minister openly threatens officers responsible for electoral integrity, it sends a disturbing message throughout the administrative hierarchy—suggesting that loyalty to the governing party should take precedence over constitutional obligations. This goes beyond political rhetoric and represents an attempt to undermine the foundation of Indian democracy," the letter stated.

The BJP has also established a deadline for the Chief Minister to disclose her allegations against the CEO. If she fails to do so by Monday, the party has threatened to initiate an indefinite demonstration outside the Election Commission office until action is taken against Banerjee.