BIG NEWS: TMC Challenges Central Staff Deployment At Bengal Counting Centres

All India Trinamool Congress has approached the Supreme Court of India challenging the Election Commission’s decision to deploy central government employees at counting tables during the West Bengal election vote counting. The hearing is scheduled for 10:30 AM before a special bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi. Earlier, the Calcutta High Court dismissed TMC’s petition, stating that the matter falls under the Election Commission’s authority. TMC argues that the decision is arbitrary, discriminatory, and beyond jurisdiction. The party claims the rule has been applied only in West Bengal and not in other states. TMC also alleged that increasing the number of central employees at counting centres could affect transparency and create imbalance during the counting process. The party questioned why the new rule was introduced and whether the additional chief election officer had the authority to take such a decision.