Mamata Banerjee backs Opposition meeting over demand to remove election chief

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has pledged to support parties that unite around demands for accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, regardless of their political affiliations. Speaking at a public meeting in Serampore, West Bengal, on Saturday, Banerjee said the INDIA bloc would meet in New Delhi on September 30. She said Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary M.A.

Baby had contacted her about broader Opposition coordination and that she had agreed to participate. Banerjee said she had subsequently spoken to Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. She added that other regional parties could join the meeting.

The former West Bengal Chief Minister said parties should focus on the issue rather than their political colours. She said the Opposition would work together for free and fair elections and to protect voters’ rights. The immediate dispute centres on the conduct of the Chief Election Commissioner and the special intensive revision, or SIR, exercise in West Bengal.

Banerjee has repeatedly criticised Kumar since the exercise began in 2025 and has accused him of responsibility for the deletion of thousands of voters’ names. At the rally, she called for Kumar’s resignation and said the movement would continue until he left office. She also argued that people supporting him should be held accountable.

Banerjee said concerns over SIR, voter rights and the demand for action against the Chief Election Commissioner had brought the Trinamool Congress, the CPI(M) and Congress closer despite their political differences. The report also referred to claims that two other Election Commissioners were not in agreement, but gave no further details. The planned meeting follows protests by Opposition parties seeking resignations from election officials.

No response from Kumar or the Election Commission was included in the supplied material.