The Supreme Court’s refusal to meddle in the Election Commission’s arrangements for West Bengal’s vote counting has sparked jubilation among BJP ranks. On Saturday, party leaders hailed the decision that upheld the use of central government and public sector employees for overseeing the May 4 count, rejecting TMC’s frantic legal challenge.
This development follows TMC’s appeal against a Calcutta High Court directive, amid heightened tensions post the fiercely fought assembly polls. While declining intervention, the court underscored the need for full compliance with EC guidelines, which require state officials’ presence to maintain bipartisanship in the process.
BJP’s state chief Samik Bhattacharya unleashed a scathing attack, branding TMC’s court foray as a wasteful expenditure of public funds on Kapil Sibal’s advocacy. ‘We’ll disclose the figure to the people after forming the government,’ he promised journalists, underscoring voter rejection of TMC’s maneuvers.
Adding fuel, MoS Sukanta Majumdar claimed TMC sought to control counting through biased state employees. ‘EC’s neutral choice prompted their Supreme Court dash,’ he explained. He mocked Kalyan Banerjee’s track record, urging TMC to field stronger legal talent.
Dilip Ghosh, a prominent BJP face, quipped that electoral losers have no victories left. TMC’s Shashi Panja countered by highlighting uneven EC actions nationwide, committing to vigilant oversight. Saugata Roy minimized the impact, calling it a straightforward order aligning with their mixed-team plea.
EC counsel Dama Naidu’s assurances satisfied the court, leading to quick disposal of the petition without further orders. As counting day nears, the verdict bolsters confidence in impartial results, potentially reshaping Bengal’s political landscape after years of TMC dominance.
