West Bengal Chief Minister Accuses Election Commission of Bias Following Security Review, Demands Explanation for State-Specific Scrutiny

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a sharp critique against the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging deliberate targeting of her state during a recent security review meeting. In a formal statement, Banerjee characterized the ECI's approach as 'arrogant' and accused officials of dishonesty, directly questioning the rationale behind what she perceives as disproportionate focus on Bengal. This escalation follows a high-level Security, Intelligence, and Review (SIR) meeting convened by the Commission to assess poll preparedness. The Chief Minister's remarks underscore deepening political tensions ahead of anticipated electoral cycles, framing the Commission's actions as potentially partisan rather than procedural. Analysts note that such public confrontations between a sitting chief minister and the constitutional body tasked with overseeing free and fair elections are rare and signal significant friction. The ECI has yet to issue an official response to these allegations. The incident raises critical questions about federal relations, the perceived neutrality of election governance, and the operational challenges of administering elections in regions with complex political landscapes. Observers will monitor whether this dispute influences the Commission's subsequent directives or escalates into a broader institutional conflict.