Trinamool Congress member Derek O’Brien speaks in the Rajya Sabha on March 16, 2026. Photo: Sansad TV via ANI
Protesting the removal of top bureaucrats in West Bengal on the directions of the Election Commission ahead of Assembly polls in the State, Trinamool Congress MPs on Monday (March 16, 2026) walked out of the Rajya Sabha, boycotting its sitting for the day.
Speaking in the House, the party’s Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’ Brien said, “In the dead of night, the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, and Home Secretary have been removed by the Election Commission. They have all the power to do it.”
Mr. O’ Brien said the Trinamool does not seek to disrupt the proceedings of the Upper House and will stay away.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju condemned their action. “He is raising the matter about a constitutional authority, which this house or the government has nothing to do with. If every member wants to question a constitutional authority, like the courts and the Election Commission, it is not wise,” he said.
The Minister accused the Trinamool and the Congress of attacking constitutional bodies and said the Trinamool wasted the time of the House.
On Sunday (March 15, 2026), the Election Commission announced that elections to the 294 Assembly seats in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23, 2026 and April 29, 2026, followed by counting of votes on May 4, 2026. Barely hours after that, the Commission in its first order, issued late on Sunday evening (March 15, 2026), removed Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty and Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena. In a subsequent order dated March 16, 2026, it removed the State’s DGP Peeyush Pandey and Kolkata Commissioner of Police Supratim Sarkar, who were among four top IPS officers in the State replaced ahead of the election.
Published – March 16, 2026 09:28 pm IST
