This came after the EC took cognisance of a TMC complaint and issued a notice to BJP West Bengal unit president Sukanta Majumdar for his remarks allegedly insulting the national emblem of India.
The TMC had also complained to the EC against the conduct of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel in Bengal, saying they were working without any coordination with the state police, and were entering residences to intimidate voters.
Writing to state BJP chief on Monday, the EC sought a response by 8pm the same day.
In its reply, the EC told the TMC that it had acted within 20 hours of receipt of its representations on November 9.
The Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal had convened a meeting of the State Level Force Deployment Committee with the State Police Nodal Officer and State CAPF Coordinator at 11am on Sunday, the EC said.
“It was decided that each QRT [Quick Response Team], including those led by the company commander of CAPF, will include an ASI/SI level State Police personnel. Directions have been issued by the CEO accordingly… much before your letter than dated 11.11.24,” the Election Commission wrote.
The EC said it rejected the allegations of “inaction and delayed response” as “completely baseless, devoid of facts and misleading”.
The EC also said it is “surprising” that even after the prompt action by the Commission “within 20 hours” of receipt of representation on November 9 afternoon, there has been “unwarranted comments of delay”.
The TMC, however, termed the EC’s claim as “lie” and accused it of becoming a “wing of the BJP”.
TMC MP Saket Gokhale took to social media platform X and said the EC’s claim is a “lie”.
“This is a LIE. The ECI has NOT “acted within 20 hours” like they’re claiming in the media,” Gokhale said on X.
“Complaint was submitted personally by 5-MP delegation led by our Floor Leaders in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on 9th Nov (Saturday). The EC didn’t even bother to meet or even respond,” Gokhale alleged.
“And now – when campaigning ends at 5pm today – they’re doing this drama of a notice. Shame that the Election Commission has openly become a wing of the BJP,” the TMC MP added.
In a letter addressed to Rakesh Kumar, Secretary, Election Commission of India, on Monday evening, O’Brien said they did not receive any response from the EC to their communications, and didn’t get an acknowledgement of their memoranda submitted on Saturday “for a full 24 hours”.
“Rich of you to write about ‘basic courtesy’ after ignoring us for three days and then giving us a token appointment for a time which is merely 90 minutes before campaigning for the bypolls in Bengal ends,” O’Brien said.
“We have immense respect for the Election Commission of India. However, we have personally seen over the last three days how little the ECI respects the party with the third largest number of MPs in Parliament,” he said. —PTI Inputs