TMC Leaders Engage with Election Commission Amid West Bengal Poll Preparations

Trinamool Congress delegates, including Firhad Hakim and Chandrima Bhattacharya, are meeting the Election Commission in Kolkata amidst rising political tensions. The poll body is on a review visit ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, facing protests from locals accusing them of undermining democracy.

Leaders from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) are set to meet with the Election Commission of India in Kolkata on Monday, in a session aimed at discussing election preparations for the upcoming 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. The TMC team will include Mayor Firhad Hakim, state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, and former Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, according to a party statement.

Led by Hakim, the delegation intends to present the party's stance to the Election Commission, which is evaluating the state's readiness for the elections under the observations of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and his team members, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, during a three-day inspection ending March 10.

The arrival of the Election Commission officials in Kolkata was met with protests, as demonstrators near the airport displayed posters and black flags, accusing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of harming democracy. The Commission's visit is part of a broader assessment, including meetings with political parties and local authorities, against a backdrop of tense political rivalry between the ruling TMC and the BJP.

(With inputs from agencies.)