Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during a review meeting as part of the ongoing election preparedness preparations for the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly general elections in Kolkata on March 9, 2026. Photo: ECI /ANI Photo
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Monday warned senior administrative and police officials in West Bengal that lapses in maintaining law and order during the assembly elections would not be tolerated.
Mr Kumar and other Election Commission of India (ECI) officials met political party representatives and officials in Kolkata on Monday (March 9, 2026). At the CEC meeting, she sought an explanation as to why there was no narcotics advisory committee in West Bengal.
When director general (law and order) Vineet Goyal tried to respond, the CEC asked him to sit down and take immediate remedial steps. According to officials, the CEC has arrested several law enforcement agencies, including the Excise Department, Narcotics Bureau, Airports Authority of India and the Reserve Bank of India.
Mr. Kumar said the Commission was not responsible for the officials’ misconduct and said that if anyone was found to be on the wrong side, action would be taken even after May (after the elections). The CEC also referred to mistakes during the SIR and asked how experienced officers could allow such mistakes.
Fear of violence
While the dates for the assembly elections are yet to be announced, about 480 companies of the central forces have been deployed in the state. During the meeting with the CEC, representatives of several political parties, while demanding that the elections be held in fewer phases, expressed concern over political violence during the elections in the state.
During a meeting with the Trinamool Congress delegation, the CEC asked Minister Chandri Bhattacharya to keep her voice down.
“During the meeting, the TMC leader spoke in a raised voice following which the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) advised her to lower her tone and present her demands and suggestions in a constructive manner,” ECI sources said.
On a specific issue raised during the discussion, the Commission stated that the matter is currently subject to legal proceedings and therefore refrained from any comment.
The minister feels humiliated
West Bengal Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said in a media interview that the CEC spoke to her with the respect she deserved.
“I’m a woman and I’ve been told ‘don’t shout’. Why shouldn’t I raise my voice when we’re talking about people’s rights?” said Mrs. Bhattacharya. She said it was the TMC’s responsibility to protect the people and the party approached the Supreme Court expressing concern over the SIR exercise.
“Whenever we talked about the 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 invited us, they must listen to what we tell them,” 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 9, 2026 10:53 PM IST
