West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday squarely blamed the Election Commission (EC) for the Malda “hostage crisis”, asserting that her government currently has no administrative control as the state machinery functions under the poll panel during the election period. Her remarks come amid heightened political tensions following the gherao of judicial officers in Malda during the electoral roll revision exercise.
Addressing a public rally, Banerjee distanced her government from the incident, stating that officials are now directly under the EC’s supervision. She said she is “without administrative control now”, underlining that the state administration is not in a position to intervene in such situations.
“BJP is planning this to avert the process of election. This is the BJP’s game plan. They want to impose President’s rule. Does Bengal want that? Do you not want TMC to retain power through proper polling process? Do not allow yourself to get instigated by such provocations. Trust me,” she raised alarm futher cautioning people during her public meeting in Murshidabad’s Sagardighi.
Banerjee framed the Malda episode as part of a broader political strategy aimed at destabilising the state ahead of crucial elections. Her comments signal a sharp escalation in the ongoing confrontation between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Election Commission, with the party repeatedly alleging overreach and bias by the poll body.
“I condemn such statutory body,” she said further calling the Malda incident “an orchestrated fiasco.” Visibly frustrated with the fact that the state administration is run by the Election Commission now, CM Banerjee went on to target Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “You don’t know the demography of this state yet you claim that it has changed. This orchestrated fiasco (Malda violence) was his blueprint which was executed with the help of EC.”
The Malda incident, which involved the alleged confinement of officials on election duty, has already triggered widespread concern over law and order and the functioning of institutions during the poll process. Against this backdrop, the chief minister’s assertion of lacking administrative authority adds a new dimension to the debate, raising questions about accountability and governance during elections.
She went on to urge people have faith in her and reiterated that people must not pay heed to provocations. “When Bengal is humiliated, I feel the humiliated too. Do you want BJP to rule Bengal?” she said repeatedly asking people to refrain from violence in the coming days.
Speaking elaborately on the Malda incident, CM Banerjee conceded that people’s anger over arbitrary deletions was justified. However, she condemned the ‘siege’ of judicial officers.
“The whole state has been disgraced. I never support such violence,” she said backing Supreme Court’s observation on the matter and alleging that the newly-appointed Chief Secretary of the state, IAS Dushyant Nariwala, did not inform her about the unfolding chaos in Malda. “He failed to control the situation and did not inform me either. I got to know about it from journalists,” she said.
