Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha member Sudhanshu Trivedi on Saturday, 2 May accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of repeatedly approaching courts — including the Supreme Court — calling it "proof of panic and frustration" and questioning the party's faith in constitutional institutions. In the same press conference in New Delhi, Trivedi also raised alarms over the law-and-order situation in Punjab after two FIRs were reportedly registered against Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, who recently defected to the BJP from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Supreme Court Declines TMC Plea

Trivedi's remarks came in direct response to the Supreme Court declining to interfere with the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision to appoint Central government and Central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) employees as counting supervisors and assistants. The apex court was hearing a plea filed by Trinamool Congress challenging a Calcutta High Court order on the matter.

"The way in which the Trinamool Congress has repeatedly attempted to approach the Supreme Court on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations, it is a proof of its panic and frustration," Trivedi said at the press briefing. He added: "Going to the court repeatedly not only reflects your political frustration, but also raises questions about your faith in constitutional establishments and suggests an attempt to misuse it."

Trivedi Questions Mamata's Trust in Own Machinery

The BJP leader further targeted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, referring to her reportedly visiting the residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain during an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid. Trivedi argued the move revealed a trust deficit within the TMC leadership itself.

"I want to tell Mamata Banerjee that today the question of trust is on yourself. When the raid took place at I-PAC, it was the first time that a Chief Minister personally reached the spot. That means, she did not trust her own police and her own state government agencies, which is why she herself went inside there. It meant she did not trust her own personal staff," Trivedi said.

He also alleged that TMC's public support and morale have "continued to decline," asserting that exit poll trends had shaken the party's "balance and confidence" after the polling process concluded peacefully.

Punjab Law-and-Order Under Scrutiny

Separately, Trivedi trained his sights on the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), over the reported registration of two FIRs against Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak. Pathak, along with six other AAP MPs, switched to the BJP last week.

"The police are not able to arrest the drug peddlers in the state. Gunshots were fired near the gate of Sri Harmandir Sahib and attacks have taken place on the offices of police officials," Trivedi alleged. He further claimed that "serious allegations were made in the Punjab Assembly that CM Bhagwant Mann was intoxicated" — a charge that has not been independently verified.

Trivedi accused the Punjab government of prioritising action against Pathak over addressing the state's deteriorating law-and-order situation. This comes amid a broader political battle between the BJP and AAP following the high-profile defections. As counting day approaches, both the TMC's legal strategy and Punjab's political temperature are likely to remain flashpoints.

What's Next

With the Supreme Court having declined TMC's plea, the party's legal options appear narrowed ahead of counting. Meanwhile, Pathak's legal situation in Punjab is expected to evolve rapidly, with BJP leaders signalling they will mount a political and legal defence on his behalf.