‘BJP in collusion with ECI hatched a conspiracy to disenfranchise Bengal’s electorate’

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday alleged that BJP in collusion with the Election Commission of India (ECI) has hatched a conspiracy to “disenfranchise” Bengal’s electorate and multiple voters, primarily from BJP-ruled states, have been assigned the same EPIC number in Bengal.

“It’s a sinister plot to plant fake voters and manipulate the 2026 Assembly elections,” Banerjee stated.

Banerjee expressed his apprehension that the BJP might adopt unfair tactics and manipulate electoral rolls of Bengal ahead of 2026 Assembly elections in a very similar way that they did in Maharashtra and Delhi thereby winning both the Assembly elections.

He also announced the formation of an electoral roll verification committee at different levels. Banerjee was addressing a virtual gathering of his party leaders from various levels regarding Electoral roll verification which was started following the instruction of the party supremo Mamata Banerjee.

Banerjee asserted that Trinamool Congress has caught the entire conspiracy that the BJP had hatched and added that what happened in Maharashtra and Delhi Assembly elections will not be repeated in Bengal. Incidentally, the BJP had recently won both Delhi and Maharashtra elections. Banerjee also warned all his party leaders and workers to be alert so that the BJP cannot carry out any discrepancies in the voter lists.

“Assembly elections in Delhi took place seven months after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. During this period, around 4.12 lakh new voters were added to the electoral list. In Maharashtra, about 39 lakh new voters were added within a gap of four months. Plans were called out in a very cool head. I therefore urge you all to be alert. There were 78 constituencies in Maharashtra where 18 lakh new voters were included. Out of this, in 68 seats the BJP won. This cannot be a coincidence,” Banerjee said while addressing the virtual meeting.

Banerjee also announced that a committee will be formed for verifications at various levels like booths, wards, panchayats, towns, blocks and districts each and electoral roll supervisors will be appointed. At panchayat level, the supervisors will be called panchayat electoral roll supervisors whereas the town committee will be named as town electoral roll supervisors.

“Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena committed the mistake in Maharashtra. As a result, discrepancies were carried out to manipulate the voter lists. Our party supremo Mamata Banerjee has caught the whole conspiracy. Bengal is not Maharashtra or Uttar Pradesh. They (BJP) thought they would win the election here by manipulating electoral rolls. It will not happen here… BJP’s plan is to remove 25 lakh voters and add another 25 lakh fake voters,” Banerjee stated. He also said that formation of district level committees should be completed by March 20 and the list has to be submitted to the state while the block committee will be constituted between March 21-27. Ward committee will be set up during March 28-April 3. From April 116, the verifications will be carried out, Banerjee told his party leaders.

“There is a BLA-1 in each administrative district . They will appoint BLA-2 in each administrative district. BLA2 are booth level officers (BLOs). They will coordinate with BLOs. Electoral roll is a continuous process. We will have to be alert,” Banerjee added.

He further stated: “Arvind Kejriwal lost in his constituency by 35,000 votes. They (AAP) have found it out after the elections. Our demand to the Election Commission is that it has to find out whose names have been removed and whose names have been added.” Banerjee also directed his party leaders to find out those booths where Trinamool Congress lost with a small margin.

“Today, I convened a virtual meeting with our leaders. We have meticulously examined the irregularities and laid out a comprehensive plan to democratically counteract this fraud. We will not allow this electoral sabotage to succeed. Bengal will fight. Bengal will triumph,” Banerjee later said on social media.

During the meeting, Banerjee also said that some people are asking for money in the name of IPAC with a promise of giving posts. He urged the party workers to verify by calling at 8142681428 if they at all receive any phone call with such promises. “Some are asking for money with promises of ensuring block president posts taking the names of IPAC and my office. We have received such complaints,” Banerjee said. Banerjee said that due to lack of coordination his party did not get expected results during Lok Sabha elections in East Midnapore and Malda. “District and block leaders are responsible for results in Malda. BJP and Congress spread propaganda but no TMC leaders could have countered it. There was a lack of effort in Kanthi,” Banerjee said.