People will not forgive 'Vanish Kumar': Mamata takes dig at CEC, questions immunity to poll panel
West Bengal politician Mamata Banerjee has criticized the Chief Election Commissioner, labeling him 'Vanish Kumar' and questioning the immunity granted to election officials under a 2023 law. She alleges that the Election Commission's electoral roll revision process unfairly targeted TMC-won constituencies.
Why it matters
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions regarding the independence of India's electoral body and the legal protections afforded to its officials.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday (October 1, 2026) said the people of India would not forgive those responsible for taking away their voting rights and questioned the immunity provision for the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners under a 2023 law.
Referring to CEC Gyanesh Kumar as "Vanish Kumar", Ms. Banerjee said, "He made people's rights vanish. How can I forgive him? Who am I? It is the people of India who will not forgive him."
Addressing a press conference, she said the TMC had opposed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in West Bengal right from the beginning and alleged that the exercise was centralised by the Election Commission (ECI).
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