New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, who is in West Bengal over the upcoming Assembly polls in the state, has faced repeated protests. During his visit to the Kalighat Temple in Kolkata on Monday, protesters surrounded him, waved black flags, and shouted “Go Back” slogans, marking second such instance since Kumar landed in Kolkata.
Kumar meets political parties in state
On Sunday night, Kumar reached Kolkata along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi and he is scheduled to be in the state for three days. The team would hold several meetings with the state administration and various political parties from Monday to prepare for the upcoming Assembly polls.
Kumar and State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal visited the temple which is located in area known as the fortress and home turf of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Protesters gathered even before the officials reached the place and they shouted slogans against Kumar and the ECI while waving black flags.
BJP alleges TMC of planning protests
The protesters said they were demonstrating over the alleged removal of their names from the voters’ list during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Bengal. Kumar, while leaving the temple premises after offering his prayers, told reporters, “My greetings to all the brothers and sisters of West Bengal. May Mother Kali keep everyone well.” The CEC earlier faced protests on Sunday night after landed Kolkata. Agitators shouted ‘Go Back’ slogans while waving black flags as Kumar was on his way from the Kolkata airport to his hotel in New Town.
Notably, supporters of both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Left parties have staged protested against the SIR process in the state. Meanwhile, BJP MLA and West Bengal general secretary of the party, Agnimitra Paul has accused Mamata Banerjee of planning the protests that greeted Kumar during his stay in Bengal.