The Trinamool Congress did not turn up to meet the Election Commission on Monday, accusing the poll panel of favouring the BJP by allegedly going slow on its complaints and giving the Bengal ruling party an appointment only 90 minutes before the campaigning for the bypolls ended.

The poll panel gave a timeline of its action and called the allegations unwarranted.

The allegations were made amid escalation tensions on the final day of campaigning for by-elections to six Assembly seats in Bengal, a state that has witnessed significant electoral violence in recent years.

Trinamool leaders had marched to the EC office on Saturday, a day after seeking an appointment with all three panel members. On Monday, the party did not mince words on the EC’s response.

The party’s Rajya Sabha leader, Derek O’Brien, said in a letter to the chief election commissioner on Monday: “Despite the gravity of the situation, the commission has failed to take immediate corrective action or issue clear directives to the BJP and its leaders, and the CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) to desist from such unlawful and defamatory conduct.

“We are further dismayed by the commission’s decision to grant us… an appointment at 3.30 pm today, 11th November 2024 — a mere 90 minutes before the campaigning period concludes at 5 pm and the beginning of the silent period. This effectively negates the purpose of raising these concerns, as no substantive action can be taken during this critical window. The commission’s inaction and delayed response raise serious questions about its role as a neutral arbiter in the electoral process. It appears that these delays serve to benefit the BJP, thereby compromising the fairness of the elections and eroding public confidence in the impartiality of democratic institutions.”

The EC responded: “Your request seeking an appointment for AITC delegation to discuss issues relating to upcoming by-elections in West Bengal was received on November 8, 2024, at 5.17 pm by an email. However, it did not mention any issues that were required to be discussed. A reminder of this request was received through email on November 9, 2024, at 9.57 am. However, this also neither specified any issue nor enclosed any representation. While the commission was waiting to receive the representation or to know the subject matter of the meeting, a delegation of the AITC came to the commission office on November 9, 2024, and handed over two representations at 14:57 hours. Accordingly, the commission gave AITC time for personal hearing on November 11, 2024, at 3.30 pm, vide email dated November 10, 2024 (at 3.20 pm).

“Acting promptly on both the representations dated November 9, 2024, the commission directed the CEO to first address the urgent issue regarding force deployment. The CEO, West Bengal, convened the meeting of the state-level force deployment committee along with the state police nodal officer and the state CAPF coordinator on November 10, 2024 (Sunday), at 11am itself, i.e within 20 hours of receipt of your representation at commission’s office in New Delhi. It was decided that each QRT, including those led by the company commander of the CAPF, will include an ASI/SI level state police personnel.”

The poll panel added: “As regards the second matter relating to the alleged speech of (BJP MP) Sukanta Majumdar, the commission has issued a notice to him to give his reply by 20:00 hrs on November 11, 2024.

“It is surprising that even after the prompt action by the commission by 11.00 hours on Sunday, November 10, 2024, i.e. within 20 hours of receipt of the AITC’s representation on November 9, 2024, at 14.57 hrs, there has been unwarranted comments of delay. As such, this commission rejects your allegations regarding inaction and delayed response as completely baseless, devoid of facts and misleading.”

To this, O’Brien replied to EC secretary Rakesh Kumar: “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.”

Complaint rush

The BJP has urged the EC to take action against leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for the former’s remarks in Mumbai on November 6.

The BJP’s memorandum quotes Rahul as alleging that the party would dissolve the Constitution, hire vice-chancellors only from the RSS and misuse government bodies.

A Congress delegation went to the EC in the evening with eight complaints, including one against a Jharkhand BJP advertisement depicting INDIA bloc leaders as anti-Adivasi. Ranchi police filed an FIR against the BJP on Monday.