Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, during a review meeting as a part of the ongoing preparations on Poll Preparedness for General Elections to West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections 2026, in Kolkata on March 9, 2026. Photo: ECI /ANI Photo
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar warned senior administrative and police officials in West Bengal on Monday that lapses in maintaining law and order during the Assembly polls would not be tolerated.
Mr. Kumar and other officials of the Election Commission of India (ECI) held a meeting in Kolkata with representatives of political parties and officials on Monday (March 9, 2026). At the meeting, the CEC sought an explanation as to why West Bengal lacks a Narcotics Advisory Committee.
When Director General (Law and Order) Vineet Goyal attempted to respond, the CEC asked him to sit down and proceed with immediate corrective steps. According to officials, the CEC pulled up several enforcement agencies, including the excise department, the narcotics authorities, the Airports Authority of India, and the Reserve Bank of India, for lapses.
Mr. Kumar said that the Commission will not take responsibility for lapses by officials and said that if anyone was found to be on the wrong side action will be taken even after May (after the elections). The CEC also referred to lapses during the SIR and asked how experienced officers could allow such mistakes.
Concerns about violence
While the dates for the Assembly polls have yet to be announced, about 480 companies of central forces have been deployed in the State. During the meeting with the CEC, representatives of several political parties, while demanding that elections be held in fewer phases, raised concerns about political violence during elections in the State.
During the meeting with the Trinamool Congress delegation, the CEC asked Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya to lower her voice.
“During the meeting, a leader from the TMC spoke in a raised voice, following which the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) advised her to lower her tone and submit her demands and suggestions in a constructive manner,” sources at the ECI said.
On a specific issue raised during the discussion, the Commission stated that the matter is currently sub-judice and therefore refrained from making any comments.
Minister feels slighted
Speaking to the media, the West Bengal Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said that CEC did speak to her with the respect she deserved.
“I am a woman, and I was told ‘don’t shout’. Why should I not raise my voice when we are speaking about people’s rights?” Ms. Bhattacharya said. She said that it was the TMC’s responsibility to protect the people and the party has approached the Supreme Court raising concerns over the SIR exercise.
“Whenever we spoke about SIR, they said the matter is in the Supreme Court. If that is the case, why did they call us for the meeting? When they have invited us, they must listen to what we have to say,” the Minister said.
Earlier, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made similar allegations against the CEC after she led a delegation to Nirvachan Sadan in Delhi.
Published – March 09, 2026 10:53 pm IST
