TMC writes to ECI alleging MCC violation by Nirmala Sitharaman
The Statesman | 17 April 2026
The Trinamul Congress (TMC) has lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India, alleging serious violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her recent visit to West Bengal.
In a letter addressed to the poll panel, the party said: “This is to bring to your immediate attention a series of grave electoral malpractices committed by Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman… which strikes at the very root of free and fair elections.”
The complaint pertains to Sitharaman’s visit to the state on 15 April, when she campaigned at Serampore’s Ashram Para in Kalna during the ongoing Assembly elections.
The TMC alleged that Sitharaman misused official resources during her campaign. “Under the garb of this election campaign, Nirmala Sitharaman utilised a government helicopter and met with local weavers and distributed ‘weaver cards’ directly to the electorate in that area,” the letter claimed.
It further stated that the distribution was part of a Union government scheme but was “deliberately and strategically timed to coincide with the election period.”
According to the complaint, “This official function was blatantly used as a platform for political campaigning for the BJP.”
The letter also accused the Union minister of attempting to influence voters.
“Through explicit and implicit statements, she sought to influence voters by linking continued receipt of benefits under schemes of the Union government in return for support for the BJP, thereby conveying a clear and direct inducement to the electorate,” the letter read.
Citing provisions of the MCC, the TMC argued that such actions constitute a clear violation. “Official work should not at all be mixed with campaigning/electioneering and no inducement, financial or otherwise, shall be offered to the voter,” the letter said.
It further said: “The MCC unambiguously prohibits the use of official positions and government machinery for party purposes.”
The complaint also referred to Election Commission of India guidelines, stating: “Any advertisement or activity at the cost of the public exchequer regarding achievements of the government for partisan purposes is prohibited.”
The party alleged that the event, “funded by the public exchequer, was wrongfully converted into a campaign event for the BJP.”
The TMC further contended that “the act of offering or promising gratification (in the form of scheme benefits)… constitutes a serious offence… and also amounts to ‘bribery’ and ‘undue inducement’.”
The party has urged the Election Commission of India to take immediate and strict action in the matter, alleging that such practices undermine the integrity of the electoral process.