The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday alleged bias in election monitoring after releasing screenshots of purported WhatsApp messages, which it claimed contained instructions specifically naming party MP Abhishek Banerjee, his wife and other TMC leaders for checking during poll surveillance. The party said the contents of the messages suggest that directives were not general in nature but were focused on leaders of a particular political party.
According to the screenshots shared by TMC, the messages appear to have been circulated among police and expenditure observers tasked with election-related checks. One section of the message refers to a “concerning development” alleging the involvement of “Avisek’s wife” in transporting money. The same communication goes on to instruct that, barring the Chief Minister, “all protectees of TMC, including ministers, including Abhishek and his wife, must be checked in full day glare.” The message also includes broader operational inputs, including:
* Information about alleged distribution of funds through medical camps across districts such as Nadia, Basirhat, Bongaon, Canning, Tehatta and parts of Diamond Harbour and Lalbagh
* Inputs regarding possible movement of large amounts of cash from neighbouring states and international borders, including routes via Jharkhand, Bihar and Nepal
* Instructions for deployment of flying squads (FSTs), coordination with CAPF personnel, and continuous monitoring through control rooms
Observers were asked to conduct checks and ensure coordination between police and expenditure monitoring teams. Reacting to the contents, TMC questioned why the communication specifically named leaders of one political party, instead of issuing general instructions applicable to all. The party alleged that the reference to Abhishek Banerjee, his wife and other TMC leaders indicates selective targeting. “The mention of individuals in such communications raises concerns about fairness in enforcement”, said TMC leader Kunal Ghosh. TMC also highlighted that the use of WhatsApp for sharing such instructions points to a lack of formal, documented procedure
TMC leaders described the reference to Banerjee’s wife as unverified and politically motivated, and demanded clarification from the Election Commission of India (ECI)
There has been no immediate detailed response from election authorities regarding the specific screenshots released by TMC. Officials have previously maintained that surveillance and checking mechanisms are carried out as per established guidelines during elections.
