Hooliganism in front of Bengal CEO’s office will not be tolerated: ECI

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday issued a stern warning, stating that it would not tolerate any form of hooliganism outside the office of the chief electoral officer (CEO) in West Bengal, and explicitly held the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) responsible for recent disturbances.

The commission’s strong reaction follows a tense sequence of events beginning Tuesday night, including clashes between activists of the TMC and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) outside the CEO’s office in central Kolkata, as well as an overnight protest staged by TMC supporters.

In a sharply worded statement issued Wednesday morning, the CEO’s office accused TMC-linked individuals of gheraoing the premises and raising slogans late into the night. “Such anti-social activities will not be tolerated, and the law will take its own course. The ECI will leave no stone unturned to ensure free and fair assembly elections,” the statement said.

Officials noted that the protest took place despite prohibitory orders restricting large gatherings in the area, underscoring concerns over law and order in the run-up to the two-phase assembly elections later this month.

Amid the escalating tensions, West Bengal CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal held a late-night meeting with Ajay Nand to review security arrangements at the office. Agarwal later reiterated that any disruptive behaviour would be dealt with strictly.

The unrest is also linked to a political row over alleged voter list irregularities. The TMC, led by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, has accused the BJP of attempting to manipulate electoral rolls by submitting large numbers of Form-6 applications to include voters from other states.

However, Agarwal dismissed these allegations, maintaining that due process is being followed. His remarks came shortly after Banerjee wrote to chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, claiming that BJP agents were filing fraudulent applications to “infiltrate” the voter list in poll-bound West Bengal.

The ECI’s intervention signals heightened vigilance as the state heads into a crucial electoral contest, with the commission asserting its commitment to maintaining order and ensuring a free and fair voting process.

With IANS inputs