Kolkata, March 9 (NationPress) A significant controversy unfolded during a meeting between a delegation from West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress and the full bench of the Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, on Monday. A minister present in the meeting reportedly "raised her voice" during the discussions, according to sources from the poll panel.

According to the source, "During the meeting, a TMC leader spoke in an elevated tone, prompting the CEC to request her to lower her voice and present her demands and suggestions in a more constructive manner."

In response to one of the issues discussed, the Commission indicated that the matter is currently sub-judice, thus refraining from any comments.

Chandrima Bhattacharya, the Minister of State for Finance (Independent Charge), accused the CEC of disrespectful behavior during their exchange. She stated, "I am a woman, and despite that, he told me, 'Don’t shout.' The CEC lacks a fundamental sense of respect for women. This is evidenced by the deletion of several women voters' names from the voters’ list. If your name is omitted, it is your responsibility to prove your authenticity as a voter. The CEC should remember that shouting at women or treating them disrespectfully is not part of his role," Bhattacharya expressed to media representatives upon exiting the meeting.

She further mentioned that the CEC declined to discuss any aspects related to the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) in West Bengal. "He remarked that since the SIR issue is with the Supreme Court, it cannot be discussed in the meeting. If that is the case, why did he convene us when we were not supposed to address the SIR issue? Was seeking the Supreme Court's intervention a crime on our part? We did so for the benefit of the common voters," she added.

Firhad Hakim, Minister for Municipal Affairs & Urban Development and Mayor of Kolkata, who was also part of the delegation, stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been attempting to create a false narrative that West Bengal is overwhelmed with illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators.

"Did the Commission find any evidence supporting the BJP’s claims during the past two months of the revision process? Instead, innocent individuals were victimized under the guise of the SIR. The Commission erred in establishing the revision rules in alignment with the BJP's demands. Our request is to ensure that no legitimate voter is left out of the voters’ list," he asserted.

Additionally, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had earlier indicated that various political parties had urged the Commission to implement strict measures to counteract the aggression of anti-social elements and ensure that voters are not intimidated during the upcoming elections.

The Commission also noted that most political parties advocated for one or two-phase polling in West Bengal this time. "The CEC assured that elections in India are conducted in accordance with the law and that the ECI will spare no effort in guaranteeing an impartial, transparent, and fair election in West Bengal. The ECI is committed to Zero Tolerance towards violence," the statement concluded.