Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury calls TMC 'thieves' preaching electoral religion amid Bengal poll row
Synopsis
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has turned TMC's own strongroom complaints against the party, calling them 'thieves' lecturing on electoral religion. His allegations of systemic rigging — ballot swaps, blocked nominations, and denied certificates — paint a damning picture of West Bengal's poll ecosystem, even as he credits CRPF deployment with delivering the state's first fear-free voting day in years.
Key Takeaways
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accused Trinamool Congress of large-scale electoral rigging in West Bengal on 2 May .
He alleged ballot boxes were swapped and new ballot papers inserted by officials during counting at Block Development Officer offices.
Mamata Banerjee had visited a strongroom on Thursday night over EVM tampering fears; the Supreme Court dismissed TMC's related plea on counting staff.
Chowdhury alleged Opposition candidates were blocked from filing nominations and denied victory certificates even when they won.
CRPF deployment during the two-phased polls was credited with enabling voters to participate without fear for the first time.
Chowdhury explicitly stated he was not supporting BJP , framing his remarks as a standalone critique of TMC's electoral conduct.
Congress candidate from Berhampore Assembly constituency, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, launched a sharp attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday, 2 May, accusing the ruling party of orchestrating large-scale electoral rigging and voter intimidation in West Bengal. Speaking from Murshidabad, Chowdhury dismissed TMC's recent complaints about poll irregularities as hypocritical, asking: "If the thieves themselves are speaking about 'electoral religion', then how are we supposed to trust them?"
The Trigger: TMC's Strongroom Allegations
The remarks came a day after Trinamool Congress leaders alleged irregularities involving access to a sealed strongroom in Kolkata. Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had also personally visited a strongroom on Thursday night over fears of EVM tampering. The Supreme Court subsequently dismissed TMC's plea concerning Bengal counting staff, prompting Chowdhury to acknowledge that while "everyone has the right to file a complaint, and Mamata Banerjee also has that right," he accused the party of funding its legal battles from the state exchequer.
Pattern of Rigging, Chowdhury Alleges
The veteran Congress leader outlined what he described as a systemic pattern of electoral malpractice in West Bengal. "Whether it is panchayat elections, municipal elections, or other local polls, the Trinamool Congress wins overwhelmingly everywhere. It happens through large-scale rigging carried out in collusion with the police and local goons," Chowdhury told IANS.
He went further, alleging that ballot manipulation extended to counting centres. "We have seen that when ballot boxes are taken to the Block Development Officer's office for counting, they are changed and new ballot papers are inserted by officials themselves," he claimed. He also alleged that Opposition candidates were prevented from filing nominations during panchayat and municipal elections, and that even those who managed to win were denied victory certificates.
CRPF Deployment Credited for Freer Voting
Despite his sweeping critique, Chowdhury credited the deployment of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel during the two-phased West Bengal Assembly elections with enabling voters to participate without fear. "This time due to the deployment of central forces, people have participated in the voting process without being afraid," he noted, describing this as what set the current election apart from previous ones.
He was careful, however, to distance himself from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "I am not supporting the BJP. I just want to say that due to the deployment of central forces, only on the election day, people could cast votes without any fear," Chowdhury reiterated.
Broader Context and What's Next
Chowdhury's remarks reflect the deep-rooted tensions surrounding electoral integrity in West Bengal, a state where Opposition parties have repeatedly alleged state machinery is weaponised during polls. This is not the first time TMC has faced such accusations — similar allegations surfaced during the 2021 Assembly elections and multiple rounds of panchayat polls. With vote counting approaching, all eyes are on whether central force deployment will translate into credible results — and whether TMC's strongroom concerns will gain traction beyond the political arena.
Point of View
He effectively neutralises their narrative without defending the BJP. But the deeper issue his remarks surface is structural — West Bengal's election-time ecosystem of alleged police-goon collusion, blocked nominations, and denied certificates has been documented across multiple poll cycles without systemic accountability. The Supreme Court's dismissal of TMC's counting staff plea adds a judicial dimension that neither side is fully engaging with honestly. The real question is not who is crying foul louder, but whether central force deployment alone — a one-day fix — can substitute for lasting institutional reform in a state where electoral violence and manipulation have become embedded features.
NationPress
3 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury say about Trinamool Congress?
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury called the Trinamool Congress 'thieves' who are preaching about 'electoral religion', accusing the party of systematic rigging through collusion with police and local goons. He made these remarks on 2 May in Murshidabad while responding to TMC's own allegations of poll irregularities.
Why did Mamata Banerjee visit a strongroom?
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited a strongroom on Thursday night over fears of EVM tampering ahead of the West Bengal Assembly election count. The Supreme Court subsequently dismissed a related Trinamool Congress plea concerning Bengal counting staff.
What specific rigging allegations did Chowdhury make?
Chowdhury alleged that ballot boxes were swapped at Block Development Officer offices during counting, with new ballot papers inserted by officials. He also claimed Opposition candidates were prevented from filing nominations and denied victory certificates even when they won.
Did Chowdhury support the BJP in his remarks?
No. Chowdhury explicitly stated he was not supporting the BJP. He credited CRPF deployment for enabling fear-free voting on election day but was careful to frame his critique as being directed solely at the Trinamool Congress.
How does CRPF deployment factor into the Bengal election controversy?
Chowdhury credited the deployment of Central Reserve Police Force personnel during the two-phased West Bengal Assembly elections with allowing voters to participate without fear for the first time. He argued this distinguished the current election from previous polls where intimidation was rampant.
