Calcutta High Court Questions Election Commission Over Professor Appointments in West Bengal Elections The Calcutta High Court has raised serious concerns about the Election Commission’s decision to appoint university professors as polling officers for the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections. The court, led by Justice Krishna Rao, challenged the commission’s authority to include academics in electoral duties, citing potential disruptions to educational institutions. The controversy stems from a legal challenge filed by a group of professors who argue that their involvement in election work would compromise their academic responsibilities. The Election Commission initially issued a directive allowing professors to serve as polling officers, a move that sparked immediate backlash from the academic community. Professors claimed the directive would force them to leave their campuses during election periods, disrupting teaching and research. They argued that the commission’s decision lacked legal justification and violated the principle of academic freedom. The court, during a hearing on April 16, 2026, questioned the commission’s rationale, emphasizing that the directive appeared arbitrary and lacked clear guidelines. Justice Rao criticized the commission for its inconsistent approach, noting that the same directive had been issued without prior consultation with stakeholders. He pointed out that the commission’s own notice allowed for the inclusion of judges as polling officers, yet it failed to address the unique challenges faced by academics. The judge also highlighted the potential consequences of the directive, warning that it could set a dangerous precedent for the involvement of professionals in electoral processes.#west_bengal #supreme_court #election_commission #calcutta_high_court #professors
बंगाल में शांतिपूर्ण मतदान के लिए चुनाव आयोग का प्लान, कश्मीर से भवानीपुर पहुंची 'बुलेटप्रूफ' गाड़ियां राज्य में चुनावी हिंसा के इतिहास को देखते हुए चुनाव आयोग ने बंगाल में निष्पक्ष और शांतिपूर्ण मतदान सुनिश्चित करने के लिए अभूतपूर्व सुरक्षा इंतजाम किए हैं। इस बार आयोग ने सीधे जम्मू-कश्मीर से विशेष 'बुलेटप्रूफ' गाड़ियां मंगवाई हैं। बुधवार को इन गाड़ियों ने कोलकाता के हाई-प्रोफाइल विधानसभा क्षेत्र भवानीपुर की सड़कों पर गश्त की। इन अत्याधुनिक वाहनों ने लोगों का ध्यान आकर्षित किया। इससे पहले बंगाल में जम्मू-कश्मीर से मीडियम बुलेटप्रूफ वाहन (एमबीपीवी) भी पहुंच चुके हैं। इन वाहनों की तैनाती मालदा, मुर्शिदाबाद जैसे सीमावर्ती और अतिसंवेदनशील क्षेत्रों में की गई है, जहां चुनावी हिंसा और सुरक्षा जोखिम की आशंका अधिक रहती है। अब यह 'बुलेटप्रूफ' गाड़ियां कोलकाता में तैनात की गई हैं। आयोग के सूत्रों के अनुसार, इन गाड़ियों का मुख्य उद्देश्य मतदान के दौरान किसी भी प्रकार की हिंसा, गोलीबारी या पत्थरबाजी को नियंत्रित करना है। खाकी रंग के ये चार पहिया वाहन पूरी तरह से बुलेटप्रूफ हैं, जिन पर गोलियों का कोई असर नहीं होता। इन वाहनों को विशेष रूप से बंगाल के संवेदनशील इलाकों के लिए लाया गया है। यदि कोई वीआइपी या अधिकारी किसी हिंसक परिस्थिति में फंस जाता है, तो ये गाड़ियां उन्हें सुरक्षित बाहर निकालने के लिए ढाल का काम करेंगी। तकनीकी रूप से यह वाहन किसी चलते-फिरते किले से कम नहीं है। इसमें एक साथ आठ कमांडो सवार हो सकते हैं, जिनमें से प्रत्येक के पास अत्याधुनिक एके-47 राइफल होती है। इसके अलावा, भीड़ को तितर-बितर करने के लिए गाड़ी में विशेष 'स्मोक डिस्पेंसर' (धुआं छोड़ने वाली प्रणाली) लगी हुई है। दिलचस्प बात यह है कि इन गाड़ियों पर अभी भी जम्मू-कश्मीर की नंबर प्लेट लगी हुई है, जो इनकी उपयोगिता और दुर्गम क्षेत्रों के अनुभव को दर्शाती है। भवानीपुर थाना से शुरू होकर यह मार्च पद्मपुकुर, चक्रबेरिया और शरत बोस रोड होते हुए हाजरा पर समाप्त हुआ। रूट मार्च के दौरान केंद्रीय बलों ने न केवल शक्ति प्रदर्शन किया, बल्कि लाउडस्पीकर के माध्यम से मतदाताओ...#kolkata #election_commission #kashmir #bengal #bulletproof_vehicles
TMC candidates voter list uncertainty | Murder of democracy, says Mamata Banerjee after 11 TMC nominees face voter roll uncertainty Eleven candidates from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) are uncertain whether their names remain on the electoral rolls for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. Nine of these candidates belong to minority communities, raising concerns about the fairness of the voter verification process. The issue has drawn sharp criticism from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who accused the Election Commission of selectively removing names from the voter list, calling it a "murder of democracy." Among the affected candidates are state industries minister Shashi Panja, environment minister Md Ghulam Rabbani, three-term MLA Swati Khandoker from Hooghly’s Chanditala, and Kajal Sheikh, a prominent leader from Birbhum. Three of these candidates are from Murshidabad district, where over 11 lakh voters were marked for adjudication in the final electoral rolls released on February 28. In Naoda, 29,121 voters, including TMC candidate Shahina Mumtaz, were flagged for review. Similar numbers were recorded in Lalgola and Shamshergunj, with 1,08,400 and 99,082 voters respectively under scrutiny. The Election Commission’s final rolls listed 6.44 crore voters in West Bengal, with 60.06 lakh marked for adjudication. These cases will be resolved by 705 judicial officers appointed for the process. However, the commission has yet to release the second tranche of the supplementary voter list, which is expected on Monday night. Since the first supplementary list was published, the commission has not disclosed how many voters were deleted or retained, leaving candidates and voters in limbo.#mamata_banerjee #west_bengal #trinamool_congress #election_commission #shashi_panja
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Accuses Centre of Imposing President’s Rule West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the central government of imposing an “unofficial” and “self-declared” President’s rule in the state on Friday, March 20, 2026. She claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must hold elections in West Bengal under President’s rule, calling it a “shame” and expressing fear that the Centre’s actions, though not officially announced, signal an intent to undermine the state’s autonomy. Banerjee released her party’s manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections, framing the polls as an opportunity to “save the country from the hands of Narendra Modi.” Banerjee reiterated her frustration over the transfer of senior state officials by the Election Commission, including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director General of Police, and over a dozen District magistrates and Superintendents of Police. She questioned how officers from other states, unfamiliar with West Bengal’s language, culture, and geography, could fairly conduct elections. The transfers, she argued, were part of a broader strategy to destabilize the state. The leader also alleged that the Centre planned to “take away people’s citizenship” through the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Census initiatives, which she claimed would target specific communities. She further accused the government of plotting to divide West Bengal by creating a separate state encompassing parts of north Bengal and Bihar, stating, “They do not want West Bengal to exist.” Banerjee expressed concerns about the delayed judicial adjudication of 60 lakh electors, warning that the process would not be completed before the elections.#mamata_banerjee #west_bengal #trinamool_congress #narendra_modi #election_commission
Chief Electoral Officer Reviews SIR Preparedness in Nagpur Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam convened a review meeting in Nagpur on Wednesday to evaluate the readiness for the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, set to commence in April. During the meeting, Chockalingam emphasized the need for officials to complete critical preparatory tasks, including voter mapping, verification processes, and equipment readiness, within the next 10 days. He underscored the importance of timely execution to ensure a seamless rollout of the SIR exercise across Maharashtra. Concerns were raised regarding the performance of booth-level officers (BLOs), with reports highlighting lapses in field-level operations. Similar issues were noted with some Election Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Registration Officers (AROs). Chockalingam directed strict action against erring officials, warning that departmental inquiries would be initiated, and disciplinary measures, including suspension, could be imposed. Officials were instructed to intensify ground-level monitoring and ensure accountability at every stage of the revision process. The meeting was attended by the district collector, ZP CEO, and other senior officials from the district administration. Later in the day, Chockalingam visited Wadi to inspect the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) warehouse. He reviewed storage conditions and security arrangements for the facility housing the machines, issuing directives to ensure compliance with safety and maintenance protocols. The review is part of the Election Commission’s broader initiative to streamline electoral roll management ahead of upcoming polls. The Commission aims to address logistical challenges and enhance the accuracy of voter records, ensuring a robust electoral process.#nagpur #election_commission #chief_electoral_officer #sir #evm_warehouse
KSRTC bus ads highlighting LDF govt's achievements trigger code violation debate The opposition parties, including the Congress, have raised concerns that advertisements on KSRTC buses promoting the achievements of the LDF government constitute a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. During a meeting, Congress leaders Mariapuram Sreekumar and M K Rahman brought the issue to the attention of the poll panel, urging an investigation to ensure a fair electoral environment for all political parties. The CPM, however, defended the ads, countering the opposition's claims. Kelkar, a key figure in the election process, stated that the matter would be addressed in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Election Commission regarding the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct. He emphasized that the commission's directives would be followed to determine whether the ads breached any conduct rules. On the security front, Kelkar mentioned that 30 companies, approximately 3,000 personnel from central armed police forces, have arrived in the state. These forces are engaged in area domination exercises in sensitive regions, indicating heightened security measures ahead of the elections. The debate over the ads has sparked discussions about the boundaries of political campaigning during the electoral period. While the LDF government argues that the ads are a legitimate form of communication about its policies, the opposition maintains that such promotions could influence voter behavior unfairly. The Election Commission's guidelines will play a crucial role in resolving the dispute, as they outline the permissible limits of campaign activities. The situation highlights the tensions surrounding electoral conduct and the challenges of maintaining a level playing field in a competitive political landscape.#congress #election_commission #ksrtc #ldf_government #cpm
Trinamool Congress members led an Opposition protest in the Lok Sabha against the Election Commission, alleging bias in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of West Bengal's electoral rolls. The protest, which took place as the Lower House convened, saw Trinamool members raise slogans and enter the well of the House, with other opposition parties joining the demonstration. The action is part of a broader strategy to challenge the Election Commission's conduct, including plans to move an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protest followed claims that the SIR process in West Bengal has resulted in 5.9 million voters being placed on an adjudication list, raising concerns about the fairness of the electoral roll revision. Trinamool members, who initially did not sign an Opposition notice for a resolution to remove the Lok Sabha Speaker, have since indicated support for the motion. They emphasized their expectation that other opposition parties will back the impeachment motion against the CEC. Trinamool MP Saugata Roy addressed media later, questioning the SIR exercise's conduct and stating that the party intends to file a notice for an impeachment motion against the CEC in the Rajya Sabha within days. The protest also led to a brief adjournment in the House, highlighting the significance of the issue in the political landscape ahead of West Bengal's elections. The move is seen as a calculated effort by Trinamool to rally opposition support and pressure the Election Commission, reflecting ongoing tensions over electoral processes in the state. The incident underscores the role of the Election Commission in shaping political dynamics, particularly in states with contested electoral reforms.#west_bengal #lok_sabha #trinamool_congress #election_commission #gyanesh_kumar
