For the vote counting process on May 4, the Election Commission appointed only employees of the Central Government and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) as counting supervisors and assistants. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) initially approached the Calcutta High Court challenging this decision by the Election Commission; however, the High Court dismissed the petition. The TMC has now moved the Supreme Court against the High Court’s verdict and had filed a plea seeking an urgent hearing on the matter.
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Challenging the Election Commission’s Decision
Mamata Banerjee — File photo.
In a decision issued by the Election Commission, it was stipulated that only employees of the Central Government and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) would be appointed as ‘Counting Supervisors’ and assistants for the vote-counting process. On May 4, the Election Commission rejected a plea filed by the Trinamool Congress regarding the deployment of Central Government employees for vote-counting duties. Immediately thereafter, West Bengal’s ruling party, the Trinamool Congress, moved the Supreme Court to challenge the Calcutta High Court’s verdict. The country’s apex court has admitted their petition and scheduled the hearing for this case for the upcoming Saturday. A special bench has been constituted to hear the matter. This bench comprises Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. The bench is scheduled to hear the petition filed by the Trinamool Congress at 10:30 AM.
Only central government officials are designated by the Election Commission to serve as counting supervisors at polling places. The Trinamool Congress appealed this ruling to the Calcutta High Court. They argued that they could not accept the Commission’s conclusion and asked the Court to get involved. However, the Election Commission’s decision to assign at least one central government official to each counting table, either as an assistant or a counting supervisor, was upheld by the High Court. Justice Krishna Rao said during the hearing that it is legal for central government officials to be appointed.
The High Court noted that the petitioner’s claims were unsupported and that the Commission’s judgment was lawful. The Court further stated that an election petition could be used to contest any subsequent evidence of counting process manipulation. The Trinamool Congress has petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn this High Court ruling.
This action was taken in the midst of rising tensions during the second round of voting; earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had claimed that police officers and “outside observers” who were not familiar with Bengal’s local environment were being used in an attempt to corner Trinamool Congress (TMC) employees. Her comments exacerbated the already tense political environment, which was already unstable because of altercations between TMC and BJP employees during the second round of voting.
The Election Commission’s instruction, according to the Trinamool Congress, violates the established criteria because they do not need central government personnel to be appointed as supervisors or helpers throughout the vote-counting process. Although “micro-observers” are usually selected from the central services, the party argues that imposing the same criteria on the counting personnel is a unilateral action that is only applicable to the state of West Bengal.
The Trinamool Congress has made accusations of possible prejudice in their appeal. They contend that because the central government is controlled by a particular political party, its personnel may be vulnerable to manipulation, which could jeopardize the preservation of an impartial and equal playing field during the vote-counting process.
Election Commission’s Announcement Regarding Counting Centers
The first phase of voting concluded on April 23, while the second phase took place on Wednesday, April 29. Both phases of voting across the state were conducted in a generally peaceful manner. This time, the Election Commission has reduced the number of vote-counting centers within the state compared to previous elections. Votes for the 294 seats will be counted at 77 designated centers. The Election Commission has published a list specifying exactly where counting will take place in each district; furthermore, the Commission has provided the specific addresses of the counting centers, listed district-wise. Typically, a single counting center houses 14 tables. One full round of counting is considered complete once the process has been concluded at all 14 tables. The Trinamool Congress has raised objections specifically regarding the decision to appoint at least one central government employee—either as a counting supervisor or an assistant—at these tables.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) took this action in response to growing political unrest during the second round of voting, which was characterized by mutual accusations of intimidation and electoral meddling between the TMC and the BJP. at the meantime, the ruling party released a barrage of criticism over the strong deployment of security forces, while clashes between supporters of opposing parties were recorded at a number of voting places. Ajay Pal Sharma, widely known as “UP Singham,” a prominent Uttar Pradesh police officer, was also criticized. He was put in this predicament after giving a TMC candidate a severe warning not to interfere with the voting process or confront on-duty security guards.