Mamata and Abhishek claim Election Commission handed roughly 150 seats to BJP
Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek accused the Election Commission of deleting results in about 150 constituencies, effectively giving them to the BJP.
During a joint press conference attended by party MPs including Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen, Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek asserted that the Election Commission of India erased vote tallies in around 150 constituencies, labeling the deletions as "logical discrepancy" cases that surpassed the eventual victory margins. They claimed this maneuver effectively handed those seats to the BJP. Abhishek demanded that the commission publish complete records for public scrutiny and independent analysis.
Mamata targeted chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, dubbing him "Vanish Kumar" and challenging the legal protection granted to election officials under the 2023 law, saying the people of India would not forgive him. Both leaders said the special intensive revision process unfairly impacted constituencies won by their party.
Why it matters
The allegations raise concerns about electoral integrity and the impartiality of India's election oversight body.
How this story developed
- Sep 23 Election Commission denies internal dissent, says all decisions were unanimous
- Sep 23 Congress senior filed a petition urging the Supreme Court to intervene and summon the Election Commission members.
- Sep 25 A Supreme Court petition seeking criminal prosecution of the chief election commissioner was filed.
- Sep 26 The Election Commission announced that Booth Level Officers will visit voters flagged in the SIR to collect supporting documents, with online hearings and additional help desks to be established.
- Sep 27 Opposition parties announced nationwide rallies and a parliamentary motion to force the CEC’s resignation following the removal of over 130 million voter names.
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