Kapil Sibal Critiques Election Commission Over West Bengal Polls: A Call for Accountability

Sibal's Strong Words Against the Election Commission

New Delhi: On Thursday, former law minister Kapil Sibal launched a fierce critique of the Election Commission, accusing it of orchestrating an "experiment in disenfranchisement" during the West Bengal elections. He provocatively questioned the purpose of holding elections under such circumstances.

Sibal, a Rajya Sabha MP, also directed his ire at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, suggesting he deserves a Padma Bhushan for his actions.

In a post on social media platform X, Sibal remarked, "Election Commission: (West Bengal Election). Experiment in disenfranchisement. The CEC must be awarded a Padma Bhushan! My question: Why have an election?"

As West Bengal commenced its first phase of voting on Thursday, the political landscape has become increasingly polarized, with discussions shifting from corruption and employment to identity, citizenship, and the contentious issue of names missing from electoral rolls.

Earlier, Sibal accused Kumar of colluding with the BJP to ensure the party's success in the West Bengal elections, labeling him a "national shame" and asserting that his role seems to be facilitating BJP victories.

The Independent Rajya Sabha MP also criticized the BJP-led central government and the Election Commission for the extensive deployment of security forces for the elections in Bengal.

Sibal challenged the rationale behind disenfranchising voters in West Bengal, pointing out that similar arguments were not applied in Maharashtra and Haryana. He stated, "They are using the logical discrepancy argument to disenfranchise voters, meaning if there is a less than 15-year gap between the voter and their father, their name is deleted; if there is more than a 50-year difference, the name is also removed, all done through AI."

He further asserted that the chief election commissioner himself represents the logical discrepancies plaguing the electoral process, claiming, "His discrepancy is evident throughout West Bengal. It is a disgrace to have an election commissioner of this caliber. It is a national embarrassment that no action is being taken against it."

The first phase of the two-part West Bengal election encompasses 152 of the state's 294 seats, including all 54 in the northern districts and several in Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum, and Hooghly.

The second phase is scheduled for April 29, with results expected to be announced on May 4.