# Opposition Targeting Election Commission to Mislead Public Over Successive Defeats: Dilip Ghosh

> West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh criticized Congress protests against the poll panel and defended the voter roll revision weeding out undocumented names.

**Type:** article · **Category:** West Bengal · **Published:** 2026-09-30 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/west-bengal/chunavi-hara-se-baukhalaya-vipaksha-sirpha-janata-ko-baragala-raha-hai-dilip-ghosh-40328 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Dilip Ghosh, Congress, Election Commission, West Bengal, SIR Drive, EVM, Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee

West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh has launched a sharp political critique against opposition parties, notably Congress, for questioning the credibility of the Election Commission of India. Speaking to reporters in Kolkata on September 30, Ghosh characterized the recurring complaints against constitutional bodies as a direct reaction to repeated electoral losses rather than any legitimate administrative grievance.

## Double Standards on Electoral Legitimacy
Dismissing the ongoing agitation against the poll watchdog, Ghosh pointed out that Congress held power at the Centre for ten years under the stewardship of this very same election authority. He underscored that the constitutional machinery overseeing democratic exercises has remained consistent, delivering victories to Congress in the past as well as in the states where it currently governs. According to him, the sudden questioning of electoral fairness only arises when a losing streak sets in. He remarked that when the leadership itself faces defeat at the ballots, expecting the wider organization to secure public confidence is completely unrealistic.

## Formal Redressal Over Public Drama
Addressing disputes surrounding Electronic Voting Machines, paper audit trails, and electoral rolls, Ghosh observed that statutory mechanisms already exist within the commission to adjudicate such matters. He asked why political adversaries abstain from presenting verifiable grievances before the designated constitutional forum if they genuinely suspect discrepancies in EVMs. Ghosh stated, _"Yeh sirf janta ko gumrah karne ke liye hai."_ He added that citizens have recognized the opposition's tendency to stage public spectacles while lacking substantive governance to show, reiterating that voters consistently stand behind tangible developmental work.

## Voter Roll Scrutiny and Opposition Delhi Visits
Defending the SIR verification drive, Ghosh maintained that the entire exercise is designed to segregate fabricated voter entries from genuine rolls. Individuals lacking citizenship proof or requisite documentation cannot be retained, making political lamentation over their removal entirely unjustified. Touching upon the visit of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and AITMC MP Abhishek Banerjee to the national capital for the INDIA bloc gathering, Ghosh downplayed the event as inconsequential political travel that generates media headlines without yielding any meaningful outcome on the ground.

## What this means for you
Political friction over voting machines and electoral roll audits directly affects citizen documentation and electoral transparency.

- **Across India:** National voter verification ensures that legitimate electors retain their voting franchise without clerical errors. Citizens must regularly verify their registration status through official electoral portals before upcoming polls.
- **In West Bengal:** Ongoing SIR verification procedures mean tighter scrutiny on identification papers and residency documentation. Local residents must confirm that their names and official records match the published draft rolls.
- **Electoral Transparency:** Scrutiny drives focus on eliminating duplicate or undocumented entries across regional boundaries. Any eligible citizen encountering wrongful deletion can petition local election officers for immediate rectification.
- **Institutional Trust:** Continuing debates over EVMs and paper audit trails impact voter confidence in democratic infrastructure. Utilizing formal redressal forums strengthens accountability rather than generating public skepticism.

## Why this happened
The political row erupted following opposition demonstrations against the Election Commission and debates surrounding the SIR voter roll verification drive.

- **Direct Trigger:** Congress organized demonstrations challenging the electoral body's impartiality, prompting West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh to counter their claims publicly.
- **Underlying Factors:** The SIR verification mechanism seeks to remove entries lacking statutory documentation or genuine citizenship proof. Opposition factions raised alarms over the process, labeling it contentious.
- **Historical Context:** Political disputes questioning voting machine reliability and roll inaccuracies have frequently surfaced after electoral setbacks. Constitutional bodies maintain established hearing procedures to resolve formal objections.
- **Subsequent Political Trajectory:** Opposition groups continue coordination talks under the INDIA bloc umbrella in New Delhi. Meanwhile, official electoral authorities proceed with documentation screening to maintain accurate voter rosters.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. How did Dilip Ghosh respond to Congress allegations against the Election Commission?
He pointed out that Congress governed at the Centre for ten years under the same commission and won elections in several states through it.

### 2. What forum did Dilip Ghosh recommend for EVM and voter roll grievances?
He stated that the Election Commission maintains formal hearing procedures to examine complaints regarding EVMs, VVPATs, and voter lists.

### 3. What was Dilip Ghosh's view on the SIR verification drive?
He explained that the SIR process separates illegitimate entries lacking citizenship proof or requisite documentation from official rolls.

### 4. What did Ghosh say regarding Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee visiting Delhi?
He remarked that their visit for the INDIA bloc meeting generates media attention but yields no substantive political outcome.

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