Politics has begun to surface regarding the Bengal elections. TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee has alleged irregularities in the ongoing SIR process in the state. A heated exchange of words was also witnessed between him and the Election Commissioner.

TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee held a press conference after the meeting.

The political temperature in Bengal is rising. On Wednesday, Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee held a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with the Election Commission on the issue of SIR. During this, he leveled serious allegations against the central government and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He said, "The five questions I asked last time have not been answered. Except for two or three issues, none have been answered. The names of 13.6 million people are in doubt; we asked questions about them, but the list hasn't been provided yet."

How many Bangladeshis and Rohingyas are among those whose names were deleted?

He said, "Even those over 60 who are ill can be verified at their homes instead of being called to the Election Commission office. Regarding the allegations being made by the BJP, it is said that there are 10 million Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. We have asked for an answer to how many Bangladeshis and Rohingyas are among the 5.8 million names being removed."

He said, "Names are being removed without asking the ERO. He asked, 'The name of the person who did not fill the form should be removed, but how is the name of the person who filled the form being deleted?'

"Whoever knows how to conduct elections is stealing voter lists."

Abhishek Banerjee said, "Those who know how to conduct elections are plagiarizing voter lists. Voter lists are being plagiarized. If Congress had caught this, the BJP would have lost in Haryana, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Bihar. Governments run by official circulars and notifications, but the Indian government wants to run India through WhatsApp."

He said, "The Election Commission wants to run the country through the Election Commission. They don't want to issue any notification because they know that after doing so, all political parties have the right to take it to court and challenge it." 

'We didn't get a clear answer to our questions.'

He said, "We discussed eight to ten issues. The meeting began at 12 noon and lasted about two and a half hours. The last time, on November 28th, a 10-member delegation from our party came here, about a month ago. We asked the Election Commission five questions, but we didn't get a clear answer to even one of them. That same night, the Election Commission selectively leaked information to some journalists and claimed to have answered every question. Immediately after this, I tweeted that the Trinamool Congress had digital evidence and that the Election Commission hadn't answered any of our questions."

He said, "This time too, we haven't received any clarity on anything except two or three points. When I ask them about SIR, they divert the conversation to citizenship. I haven't received any concrete answers to any of my questions. They're pointing fingers at us, and I'm like, 'You're nominated, and we're elected.'" 

He asked, "After the draft list, we learned that 89% of the population has been mapped. Who is responsible for this mentality of demeaning Bengal?"

'Gyanesh Kumar was sent to destroy the country.'

Before becoming Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar was the Cooperative Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperatives. Suddenly, he was appointed Chief Election Commissioner, sent here to ruin the country. He was sent to ruin this constitutional institution. 

'Amit Shah also targeted.'

During this, Abhishek Banerjee also targeted Home Minister Amit Shah. He said, "Use all your strength, we will win the elections. The public is with us. If Congress had grasped this, it would not have lost the elections. I would urge all opposition parties to take this issue seriously. Votes are not being stolen through EVMs; they are being stolen through voter lists."

He said, "Never before have voters been put under such a cloud. Previously, voters decided who would form the government and who would become prime minister, but now the government and the prime minister decide who will become voters." 

"You won't have to be on the streets just by appearing on TV."

Responding to ABP News' question about Rahul Gandhi's vote-stealing allegations, Abhishek Banerjee said, "If you want to raise the issue, you'll have to take to the streets, and your workers will have to work. Simply appearing on TV and making allegations won't help. Just sitting on TV and saying whatever you want won't stop vote-stealing. When the final voter list is released, and it's found to contain discrepancies, the fight won't end there. We'll pursue it legally."