Suvendu Adhikari slams Mamata, CPI(M) coming together on CEC issue

Amid the controversy surrounding the Election Commission of India (ECI), West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday (September 27, 2026) criticised former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for joining hands with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) — a party that was once her arch rival — and accused her of deliberately creating confusion over the role of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

“The Opposition is deliberately creating confusion and controversy over a recent newspaper report,” the Chief Minister said.

CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby had approached Ms. Banerjee over the ongoing controversy, and Ms. Banerjee had agreed that her party and the CPI(M) were on the same page in this matter. She said that she had a discussion with Congress leaders and that the Opposition would hold a meeting on the issue. Leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc are likely to meet on September 30.

“Trinamool was formed to end the atrocities and injustice of 34 years of CPI(M) rule. The same CPI(M) has now become their friend,” Mr. Adhikari said, adding that the understanding between the lone CPI(M) MLA and legislators supporting Mamata Banerjee has been evident on the floor of the West Bengal Assembly over the past few months.

The remarks by the Chief Minister came a day after Ms. Banerjee tore into CEC Gyanesh Kumar, saying he would have to resign at any cost.

Mr. Adhikari said that in the West Bengal Assembly election earlier this year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 208 of the total 294 seats, while Ms. Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress won 80. “The people have given a clear mandate. You are unable to accept the verdict of the people and are therefore spreading misleading statements and attacking the elected government and the Election Commission,” he said.

‘Mamata responsible for deletions’

The Chief Minister also said that the deletions during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll were carried out by judicial officers pursuant to directions of the Supreme Court in a case filed by Ms. Banerjee herself, and accused her of attempting to shift the blame after losing the Assembly elections.

“The responsibility for the deletion of 27 lakh names lies with Mamata Banerjee, not the BJP or the Election Commission. Judicial officers took the decision following the Supreme Court’s directions in a case filed by her,” Mr. Adhikari said at a press conference here.

He further said that had the SIR not been held in Kerala, the CPI(M) would have been in power. “So, the SIR is bitter in Bengal, where the BJP has won, but sweet in Kerala, where the Congress won,” he said, also accusing a section of the media of “stirring up hysteria” as they cannot digest the BJP’s victory.