West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India, alleging “unprecedented” targeting of the state and warning of institutional bias ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
‘Unprecedented and deeply alarming’
In a post on X, Banerjee said, “The manner in which the Election Commission has singled out and targeted Bengal is not just unprecedented, it is deeply alarming.” She claimed that even before the formal election notification, over 50 senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, DGP, ADGs, IGs, District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police, were “summarily and arbitrarily removed”, calling it “not administrative action, but rather this is political interference of the highest order.”
‘Direct assault on Constitution’
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief further alleged that the developments reflect a “systematic politicisation of institutions meant to remain impartial,” terming it a “direct assault on the Constitution.” She also flagged concerns over an ongoing electoral revision exercise, stating that “over 200 lives have already been lost” and accusing the Commission of acting with “clear bias.”
Concerns over voter rolls, officer transfers
Banerjee pointed out that supplementary electoral rolls are yet to be published, “in clear disregard of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directions,” which she said has left voters anxious. She also criticised the transfer of senior officers from agencies such as IB, STF and CID, alleging it was a calculated attempt to weaken the state’s administrative machinery.
Raising political questions, she asked, “Why is the BJP so desperate? Why this relentless targeting of Bengal and its people?” and accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of attempting to “capture the state through coercion, intimidation, manipulation and the misuse of institutions.”
She further highlighted what she called contradictions in the Commission’s actions, noting that officers removed from election duty were later assigned as observers. The appointment of police commissioners from Siliguri and Bidhannagar as observers without immediate replacements, she said, left key urban centres “effectively headless,” exposing “chaos, confusion and sheer incompetence.”
The manner in which the Election Commission has singled out and targeted Bengal is not just unprecedented- It is deeply alarming. Even before the formal notification of elections, more than 50 senior officials including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, DGP, ADGs, IGs, DIGs,… pic.twitter.com/ITipND3qYr
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 19, 2026
Calling the situation “nothing short of an undeclared emergency,” Banerjee alleged a broader design to impose control over West Bengal through “institutional manipulation.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Banerjee unveiled the All India Trinamool Congress candidates for all 294 assembly seats, signalling an aggressive and highly structured campaign strategy. According to internal documents accessed by News18, the party is combining traditional welfare-driven messaging with hyper-local outreach and cultural narrative-building to strengthen its electoral push.
Reiterating her stance, Banerjee said she stands in solidarity with state officials and asserted, “Bengal has never bowed to intimidation and it never will.”
Also Read: West Bengal Elections 2026: What’s inside TMC’s multidimensional poll campaign
