Left: Derek O’Brien; Right: CEC Gyanesh Kumar NEW DELHI: A meeting between a delegation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Election Commission (EC) turned tense on Wednesday, with both sides trading sharply conflicting accounts of what transpired.According to sources in the poll body, TMC leader Derek O’Brien allegedly raised his voice during the interaction and told the Chief Election Commissioner not to speak. Watch BJP Workers Claim Names Missing in Electoral Roll Revision, Raise Allegations of Conspiracy “Trinamool Congress meeting lasted barely a few minutes. EC sources said Trinamool MP Derek O Brien shouted at the Election Commission and asked CEC not to speak,” EC sources said.They further claimed that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had to intervene to restore order. “CEC Gyanesh Kumar requested Derek O Brien to maintain decorum of the Commission room, telling him that ‘shouting and indecent behaviour is not appropriate’,” the sources added.However, TMC leaders rejected the allegations outright, calling them “false” and challenged the ECI to make public a record of the meeting.Speaking to reporters, O’Brien gave a contrasting account of the brief interaction. “Today, we went to the Chief Election Commissioner. He told us ‘get lost’ within 7 minutes of the meeting. The meeting started at 10:02 AM and ended at 10:07 AM… When we told him that you are transferring officials, and how you would want to conduct a free and fair election? And then he said, leave from here… What I saw today is a shame. I challenge the Election Commissioner to release the video or audio of what happened today,” he said.Backing him, TMC MP Saket Gokhale termed the EC’s version “a lie”.”This is a LIE. I was personally present at the meeting. NOTHING like this was said. All that CEC Gyanesh Kumar said to us was ‘GET LOST’. We challenge the ECI to release a transcript of the meeting. Else we will do it,” Gokhale said in a post on X.TMC leader Sagarika Ghose also dismissed the EC’s claims.”False. A blatant lie. None of this was said to the four member delegation. Two lines were said to us by the Chief Election Commissioner… The first line: where is your authorised signatory. And the second most SHAMEFUL two words: GET LOST,” she said on X.The confrontation comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the opposition and the Election Commission ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections.Earlier this week, Om Birla and C. P. Radhakrishnan rejected separate notices moved by opposition parties seeking the removal of the CEC. The notices, submitted in March, cited allegations including “partisan and discriminatory conduct in office”, “deliberate obstruction of investigation of electoral fraud”, and “mass disenfranchisement”.In their respective orders, both presiding officers held that the charges did not meet the constitutional threshold required to initiate removal proceedings, noting a lack of prima facie evidence of misbehaviour.PollWhich party do you think is likely to win the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections?Trinamool Congress (TMC)Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)CongressLeft Front Polling for the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4. In the 2021 assembly elections, the TMC secured a landslide victory with 213 seats, while the BJP won 77. The Congress and the Left Front failed to win any seats.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s Draft Tweet On US-Iran Ceasefire Sparks Row Over Diplomatic CredibilityIndian Army Releases UAV And Loitering Munition Roadmap, Focus On Drone-Centric WarfareDelhi-Dhaka Ties Reset As Bangladesh FM Arrives In India; Focus On Border, Visa, Energy & TradeManipur Erupts Again After Deadly Blast Kills 2 Children; Curfew Imposed, Internet Shutdown’Avoid Military Areas, Stay Indoors’: India Issues Advisory For Indians In Iran As Tensions RiseManipur Erupts Again: Curfew, Internet Shutdown As Violence Returns Over Killing Of Two ChildrenTejas Back In Air After Setbacks, But Reliability And Delays Raise Fresh Questions’Target Of Akhand Bharat’: Pakistan Senator Sounds Alarm Over Growing India-UAE Ties’At The Behest Of Mamata’: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s Shocking Claim On Pakistan’s Kolkata ThreatIndia Seeks US Waiver On Chabahar Amid Conflict; Iran Envoy Hints At Key Port Revival After War123PhotostoriesIBS is disrupting your life: Doctor-recommended diet and lifestyle changes that actually relieve irritable bowel syndrome symptomsSamay Raina recalls suffering from an anxiety attack amid India’s Got Latent controversy; says, “I took half a bottle of sleeping pills, felt like my heart could stop anytime”Are zircon and American diamond the same?7 classic vintage decor styles that make your home look more luxuriousSkip the snooze: 5 powerful quotes to kickstart your workoutCute pet names for babies born in AprilUric acid vs creatinine: What these kidney markers really reveal about your health7 high-protein vegetarian foods other than paneer6 quick blooming flowers to sow in April10 couple-inspired house name ideas that add a personal touch123Hot PicksShreyas Iyer SisterUpdated IPL Points TablePurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingTaylor Swift and Travis Kelce RelationshipIPL 2026Donald TrumpB V NagarathnaMP High CourtIran AdvisoryCarlos AlcarazIPL Points TableSchool Holidays in AprilKarnataka 2nd PUC Exam Result Date
NEW DELHI: A meeting between a delegation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Election Commission (EC) turned tense on Wednesday, with both sides trading sharply conflicting accounts of what transpired.According to sources in the poll body, TMC leader Derek O’Brien allegedly raised his voice during the interaction and told the Chief Election Commissioner not to speak.
“Trinamool Congress meeting lasted barely a few minutes. EC sources said Trinamool MP Derek O Brien shouted at the Election Commission and asked CEC not to speak,” EC sources said.They further claimed that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had to intervene to restore order. “CEC Gyanesh Kumar requested Derek O Brien to maintain decorum of the Commission room, telling him that ‘shouting and indecent behaviour is not appropriate’,” the sources added.However, TMC leaders rejected the allegations outright, calling them “false” and challenged the ECI to make public a record of the meeting.Speaking to reporters, O’Brien gave a contrasting account of the brief interaction. “Today, we went to the Chief Election Commissioner. He told us ‘get lost’ within 7 minutes of the meeting. The meeting started at 10:02 AM and ended at 10:07 AM… When we told him that you are transferring officials, and how you would want to conduct a free and fair election? And then he said, leave from here… What I saw today is a shame. I challenge the Election Commissioner to release the video or audio of what happened today,” he said.Backing him, TMC MP Saket Gokhale termed the EC’s version “a lie”.“This is a LIE. I was personally present at the meeting. NOTHING like this was said. All that CEC Gyanesh Kumar said to us was ‘GET LOST’. We challenge the ECI to release a transcript of the meeting. Else we will do it,” Gokhale said in a post on X.TMC leader Sagarika Ghose also dismissed the EC’s claims.“False. A blatant lie. None of this was said to the four member delegation. Two lines were said to us by the Chief Election Commissioner… The first line: where is your authorised signatory. And the second most SHAMEFUL two words: GET LOST,” she said on X.The confrontation comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the opposition and the Election Commission ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections.Earlier this week, Om Birla and C. P. Radhakrishnan rejected separate notices moved by opposition parties seeking the removal of the CEC. The notices, submitted in March, cited allegations including “partisan and discriminatory conduct in office”, “deliberate obstruction of investigation of electoral fraud”, and “mass disenfranchisement”.In their respective orders, both presiding officers held that the charges did not meet the constitutional threshold required to initiate removal proceedings, noting a lack of prima facie evidence of misbehaviour.
Poll
Which party do you think is likely to win the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections?
Polling for the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4. In the 2021 assembly elections, the TMC secured a landslide victory with 213 seats, while the BJP won 77. The Congress and the Left Front failed to win any seats.
