In a major escalation of the pre-poll conflict in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has dashed off a strongly-worded letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. On March 19, 2026, the TMC supremo expressed her “shock” over the Commission’s current operational methods, alleging that the poll body has overstepped all bounds of professional decency and constitutional protocol.

In her letter, Mamata Banerjee stated, “I am appalled by the Commission’s way of working. It has crossed all limits of constitutional propriety.” She specifically targeted the bias in the SIR process, claiming that the Election Commission suffers from a “lack of sense of reality.” Despite repeatedly raising concerns, the CM noted that no action was taken, which eventually forced her to seek intervention from the Supreme Court.

The letter comes at a time when the TMC is already critical of the central forces’ deployment and the sudden administrative reshuffle in the state. Mamata’s direct confrontation with the CEC signals a high-stakes legal and political battle ahead of the polls. By highlighting the alleged “unilateral decisions” of the EC, the Chief Minister is positioning her party as a defender of federal structure against central oversight.