Abhishek Banerjee on Monday said it was not the BJP or the Union home ministry but the Election Commission of India that was completely responsible for Delhi police's action against Trinamul Congress leaders in the capital.

The Trinamul national general secretary, who went to Raj Bhavan with 10 other senior leaders at 9pm for a meeting with Bengal governor C.V. Ananda Bose, held a media conference by its gates from around 9.30pm, tearing into Nirvachan Sadan for what it has allegedly become in the saffron regime.

“Today, democracy was murdered in broad daylight in Delhi, with the ghastly treatment of our delegation comprising senior leaders, many of whom are women. The principal responsibility of the murder, as its main instigator, is not of the BJP or its Union government, or even the Union home ministry under Amit Shah — although Delhi Police reports to it,” said the Diamond Harbour MP after the meeting with Bose.

“The responsibility lies squarely on the shoulders of the body that has complete control of the administration, at the state level and well as the Centre, from the moment the election is notified: the Election Commission of India,” he added, going on to cite instances of alleged physical assault or manhandling of some of the senior members of the delegation in Delhi, such as Rajya Sabha members Dola Sen and Derek O’Brien. “I am saying this clearly, this commission is compromised… as are the Bangla-birodhi (anti-Bengal), BJP-appointed commissioner(s). The commission that was once our pride has now bowed down to the BJP and sold its spine.”

As of midnight, the 10-member delegation in Delhi — dragged away by the Delhi police from outside Nirvachan Sadan around 5.45pm — was yet to be released from the Mandir Marg police station.

“Ten decent citizens — most of them current or past members of Parliament — were protesting peacefully outside the commission headquarters. What were they carrying, bombs, guns, rods?” asked Abhishek.

He went on to say that Bose gave them a patient hearing and agreed that the events of the evening in Delhi were tantamount to the “murder of democracy”, which the governor purportedly condemned unequivocally.

Abhishek said Bose also promised to take it up with the commission on Tuesday morning and inform Trinamul of the developments.

Abhishek regretted that the commission was yet to sanction the construction of homes for the people affected by the storm in north Bengal.