Chief Election Commissioner Faces Protests in Kolkata During Temple Visit

Kolkata, March 9: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar encountered protests during his visit to West Bengal. He was met with chants from TMC workers opposing his presence.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is on a two-day visit to Kolkata to assess preparations for the assembly elections and review judicial processes related to “logical discrepancies” in the voter list. On Monday morning, before official meetings, Gyanesh Kumar visited the Kalighat Temple. There, he prayed for the prosperity of the people of West Bengal and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to conducting free, fair, and fear-free elections in the state.

However, outside the temple, he faced opposition. A group protested against the removal of names from the voter list, shouting “Go Back” and displaying black flags. The demonstrators chanted slogans demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s departure.

After his prayers at the temple, Gyanesh Kumar addressed the crowd, saying, “Greetings to all brothers and sisters of West Bengal. May Goddess Kali keep everyone safe and healthy. Jai Bharat, Jai Hind.” He reiterated the Commission’s resolve to ensure free, fair, and festive elections in the state.

Meetings between the Election Commission and representatives of various political parties are scheduled from 10 AM to 12 PM. At around 12:30 PM, Chief Executive Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal will present on the judicial decisions and election preparations. Following this, from 1:15 PM to 1:30 PM, the Commission’s bench will meet with representatives from various security and investigative agencies from both the state and central levels.

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