TMC General secretary and MP Abhisek Banerjee alleged that counting protocols were not followed, questioned the court’s response to reported EVM-related incidents and challenged the Election Commission to initiate proceedings against him.
BY PC Bureau
Kolkata/New Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders have launched a sharp attack on the Supreme Court of India, claiming the party lost the West Bengal elections not to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but to the judiciary over alleged failures in electoral processes and non-implementation of court guidelines.
.Fhe criticism was led by TMC National General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee, who made the remarks in Kolkata on Friday. Among others who backed his position were TMC MPs Mahua Moitra and Sagarika Ghose. Former MP Saket Gokhale, along with als chipped in. They questioned the Supreme Court’s handling of electoral disputes in West Bengal and accused the judiciary of failing to ensure compliance with its own directives.
Abhisek Banerjee said, “We lost Bengal to the Supreme Court of India, not to the BJP.” He alleged that the party had placed its faith in the apex court, believing that its directives would compel the authorities to act, but that the government had failed to follow the court’s guidelines
He specifically referred to a Supreme Court order issued on November 2 regarding the randomisation protocol for counting, which was scheduled for November 4. According to Banerjee, randomisation requires the participation of both state and central officials, but “not a single state official was involved in the counting process.” He further claimed that EVMs were set on fire within a month of the election and that the court failed to take notice of this.
Banerjee challenged authorities to act against him: “Let the government or the Election Commission of India (ECI) take suo motu cognisance and initiate proceedings against me. I will represent myself. I will contest the matter before the Supreme Court of India and appear in person. Let the people of this country see for themselves. Make the proceedings available live! Not a single one of your guidelines was followed.”
We lost the Bengal elections to the Supreme Court of India, not to BJP.
BECAUSE WE TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH!
– Shri @abhishekaitc
This country deserves a cleaner judiciary, free from the clutches of @narendramodi & @AmitShah. https://t.co/WLfRUX7ozV
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) November 5, 2026
He also raised concerns about the arrest of Sumit Roy and alleged online threats of a staged encounter linked to the same case, questioning the role of the judiciary and describing West Bengal as having been turned into a “police state.” He suggested some judges were living in fear of transfer orders, while maintaining that the party still retained some faith in the judiciary.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra endorsed Banerjee’s position, writing that the party “lost to the judiciary” and questioning how elections were allowed to proceed with 27 lakh voters awaiting adjudication and 94 lakh voters declared under “Logical Discrepancy” without a decision on its legality.
READ: Abhishek Alleges Attacks on Home by BJP Goons After Midnight
In a separate post, Moitra also backed the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee amid a contempt case in the Supreme Court. Responding to proceedings against the KPCC over a social media post targeting Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, she wrote: “Dear @INCKerala this is NOT contempt of court. This false prosecution is itself a travesty of justice. I hope you have strong legal team to fight this tooth and nail. Enough is enough. Sending you strength.”
The controversial post, which appeared on the official X handle of Congress Kerala on October 12, had stated: “Dear Surya Kant, If law and order is not your domain, resign now. We will find your replacement who can handle it.” The Supreme Court is hearing the contempt matter before a bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M. Pancholi.
Former TMC MP Saket Gokhale shared Banerjee’s video, stating it was time to speak clearly about the judiciary’s failure to hold the government accountable and describing the comments as the “hard truth” about the state of the judicial system.
It is time that we speak CLEARLY about the failure of the judiciary in holding the govt accountable.
We lost the election in Bengal to the Supreme Court. Not BJP.
Finally, here’s someone speaking the HARD TRUTH about the state of our judicial system.
This is @abhishekaitc saying what’s on the mind of every democracy-loving India. Take a few mins and watch this. 👇
— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) November 6, 2026
Journalist and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose also weighed in, arguing that the Supreme Court could not escape scrutiny. She questioned why the apex court did not restrain the Election Commission ahead of the Bengal elections, referred to a judge’s reported remark that “those who can’t vote this time vote next time,” and said the constitutional court had treated the right to vote in a “cavalier manner.” Ghose concluded that “the buck for the collapse of India’s electoral system stops with the Supreme Court.”
As the @ECISVEEP is forced to make U turns and clarifications every day the Supreme Court cannot escape scrutiny. Why did the apex court not restrain the @ECISVEEP ahead of the Bengal elections? Why did the learned judge say “those who can’t vote this time vote next time,” and why did the SC -the constitutional court-treat the constitutional right to vote in such a cavalier manner . @abhishekaitc gets it bang on : the buck for the collapse of India’s electoral system stops with the Supreme Court.
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) November 6, 2026
The TMC official handle amplified Banerjee’s statement, posting: “We lost the Bengal elections to the Supreme Court of India, not to BJP. BECAUSE WE TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH!”
The comments come amid ongoing political and legal disputes over the conduct of the West Bengal elections, including issues related to electoral roll revisions (SIR), voter adjudication, counting protocols, and alleged irregularities. The Election Commission and the central government have not immediately responded to the latest allegations in the statements reported.
Banerjee’s challenge for live Supreme Court proceedings and his offer to appear in person remain open as political and legal reactions continue to unfold.
