West Bengal Chief Minister Storms Out of Election Commission Summit, Accuses Central Body of Partisan Conduct

In a dramatic escalation of tensions between state governments and federal electoral authorities, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee abruptly terminated her participation in a high-level Election Commission of India (ECI) consultation today. The incident occurred during discussions concerning the ongoing Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls (SIR), a critical pre-election administrative process. Chief Minister Banerjee, upon her exit, issued a formal statement alleging the Commission, and specifically the Chief Election Commissioner, had engaged in deliberate humiliation and was uncritically advancing the political agenda of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the national level. She further contended that the SIR exercise is being weaponized to disproportionately target states under opposition party control, thereby undermining constitutional safeguards for free and fair elections. This public breach signifies a deepening institutional crisis, raising serious questions about the perceived neutrality of India's premier electoral watchdog during a period of intense political polarization. The walkout is expected to galvanize opposition unity and will likely trigger demands for greater transparency and accountability in the Commission's operations vis-à-vis non-BJP governed states.