Mamata Banerjee joins INDIA bloc discussions in Delhi over electoral-roll revision

All India Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday to take part in a meeting of the Opposition INDIA bloc, according to The Hindu. She was accompanied by MPs Dola Sen and Kalyan Banerjee. Speaking to reporters, Banerjee said the meeting would address the role of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the special, intensive revision of electoral rolls.

She accused the Chief Election Commissioner and his “full software team” of cheating and betraying people, according to the report. Banerjee also said she had been referring to Kumar as “Vanish Kumar”. The report said CPI(M) general secretary M.

A. Baby had recently contacted her in an effort to build unity among opposition parties over the electoral-roll revision and the Election Commission’s role. The TMC leader has also held discussions with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

At a public meeting, she said she was prepared to ally with any party over the issue involving the Chief Election Commissioner. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari criticised Banerjee’s visit and the opposition parties’ cooperation. He described the INDIA alliance as finished and accused her of holding a planning session with what he called “Dimagi Naxals” in Delhi.

Adhikari said he would ask Delhi Police and the central Intelligence Bureau to monitor the meetings. He further alleged that Banerjee could meet “anti-India forces” and called her an adviser to “Dimagi Naxals”. The report did not provide evidence for those allegations.

The West Bengal Chief Minister also criticised the cooperation between the CPI(M) and the TMC, traditionally political rivals, in discussions concerning electoral-roll revision and the Election Commission.