‘Situation reversed’: BJP takes jibe at Mamata’s CPM outreach amid EC-SIR row | India News
NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday took a jibe at Mamata Banerjee’s reported outreach to the CPM amid the ongoing row over the Election Commission, saying the former chief minister was trying to find a role in the opposition INDIA bloc after losing power in the state.Speaking to reporters, West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh said CPM leaders had earlier tried to reach out to Mamata, but she had never spoken to them. He said the political equations had now changed.“Earlier, when they would call Mamata Banerjee, she never spoke to them. Now the situation is reversed. She seems to be approaching them or expecting a call from them,” the West Bengal minister said.“As she has no role here, she is trying to play a role somewhere else,” he added.The ongoing row over the Election Commission has brought West Bengal’s bitter political rivals, the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and the CPM, on the same page.CPM general secretary M A Baby spoke to Mamata, who agreed that the situation warranted coordinated action.Meanwhile, INDIA bloc parties are likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns over the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, besides other issues, news agency PTI reported, citing sources.The proposed meeting comes amid increased coordination among opposition parties over the Election Commission, following reports of differences within the poll panel over aspects of the SIR exercise.Opposition parties are also working on a fresh removal notice against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, which is likely to be submitted in both Houses of Parliament after being vetted by legal experts. It would be the third such attempt by the opposition.
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The latest mobilisation follows an Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on several occasions over decisions and orders related to the SIR.The Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are a normal part of institutional deliberations and asserted that its orders have full legal sanction and follow statutory procedures.
