Kolkata, March 9, 2026: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra has sharply criticised Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar after he was seen waving to the public in a celebratory manner upon his arrival at Kolkata Airport on Sunday evening. Moitra accused the CEC of behaving like a “rockstar” on taxpayer money during an official pre-poll visit and suggested he was already eyeing a BJP ticket.
Kumar arrived in Kolkata on March 8 for a three-day visit (March 8-10) along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar’s full bench — SS Sandhu and Vivek Joshi — to review poll preparedness ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, expected in the next two months. The team is scheduled to hold meetings with West Bengal government officials and representatives of eight recognised political parties.
As Kumar’s convoy moved from the airport to his hotel, he waved to people gathered along the route. TMC workers and local protesters responded by waving black flags and raising “go back” slogans against the Election Commission. Heavy security arrangements, including barricades, prevented any escalation. Similar protests continued the next day when Kumar visited the Kalighat temple.
In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday morning, Mahua Moitra wrote:
“Hello @ECISVEEP what’s with the rockstar style waving ? You’re a CEC on a full bench pre election visit on taxpayer money. Hold your horses till you get that BJP election ticket at least!”
She attached a video clip showing Kumar waving from his vehicle.
The remark reflects ongoing tensions between the TMC and the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The TMC has repeatedly accused the EC of bias in favour of the BJP and of attempting to delete genuine voters.
The CEC’s visit comes amid these allegations, with the full bench expected to address concerns raised by political parties during the scheduled meetings.
No immediate response has come from the Election Commission or the CEC’s office on Moitra’s comments.
The episode underscores the charged political atmosphere in poll-bound West Bengal, where every move by the poll panel is under intense scrutiny from the ruling TMC.
For More News Updates Follow Us On www.tconews.in
