TMC accuses ECI of brutality; Mamata expresses confidence in election sweep

New Delhi/Kolkata: As West Bengal heads through the second phase of Assembly elections, senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay has launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), characterizing its conduct during the ongoing polls as "brutal". Despite the heightened political tensions and the deployment of massive security forces, Bandyopadhyay expressed firm confidence that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is on course to retain power with a mandate of over 250 seats.

Addressing the media on polling day, Bandyopadhyay stated, "I have been elected six times from Kolkata. I have never seen in my life such a brutal Election Commission". He pointed out that while approximately 200,000 security personnel have been deployed across the state, incidents of unrest have been confined to only 8–10 constituencies out of the 294 in the state. He reiterated the party's defiant stance, asserting that the Trinamool Congress would not allow the state to be "captured" by external political forces.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been active on the ground, visiting several polling booths across South Kolkata to monitor the voting process. During her interactions, she leveled serious allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of attempting to "forcefully rig" the polls.

The Chief Minister also targeted the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and election observers, alleging that the latter were brought in from outside to exert pressure on local police. While she controversially referred to the CRPF as "gunda" (goons) during her address, she quickly retracted the statement. She further claimed that the BJP was utilizing central forces to "assault" TMC workers and leaders, fueling the already high-stakes atmosphere as citizens continue to cast their votes across 142 constituencies.

(Inputs from IANS)