00:00The Election Commission or Ganesh Kumar has hijacked the democratic process, captured the democratic process.
00:06That is what former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said.
00:10Even though it's pertinent to mention that there are several constituencies, even though where SR had been done, TMC did
00:15win by a good margin.
00:16And this was mentioned also by the BJP in the press conference.
00:19Huge political debate has unfolded on this.
00:22Piyush Mishra is joining me for the latest on that.
00:24Piyush, but while the BJP may want to bring out this defence and call it simply a political showdown,
00:29but it does raise a question mark on the Election Commission, isn't it?
00:32Especially at the doorstep of the CEC and indirectly at the door of the top government officials.
00:39Well, that's right, Pooja.
00:41And that's why since morning we are seeing as to how various opposition political parties are doing press conferences
00:46and they are seeking answers from the Election Commissioner, especially from Ganesh Kumar.
00:51Remember that after all these press conferences, BJP has come out with a defence.
00:55First press conference by BJP, while doing press conferences, they are now saying that we are not defending Election Commission,
01:03but we are only highlighting the facts.
01:07BJP is saying that this entire note, which has also been released by Election Commissioner of India,
01:11certainly indicates that all Chief Election Commissers reached on a conclusion only and only after having due deliberation.
01:19They followed the democratic process, they did not go through an autocratic process.
01:24So that's what the BJP is now saying.
01:26At the same time, Pooja, BJP is saying that at one side, opposition is alleging that we are doing vote
01:32for it,
01:33but let's take example of the last few of the elections, let's take example of the fresh election in West
01:39Bengal.
01:39Out of 20 seats where maximum votes got deleted, TMC and Congress, MLAs were the biggest beneficiaries.
01:47TMC had the biggest number of victory margin from these 20 seats.
01:51Mahmatar Banerjee is asking for re-elections in all the states since SR was done.
01:56Will the government do it? Will the Election Commission do it, you feel?
02:00Well, we specifically asked this question from BJP's National Spokesperson, Samgit Patra, on this,
02:06and he stated that that is the intention of opposition.
02:10They just want to take over the seat, they just want to sit on a particular seat without even winning
02:16over the hearts of people.
02:17So blame game continues, war of words have now intensified, but the point here is that, yes, dissent was there,
02:24and after the kind of investigation which has come to the fore, Hulshan is now seeking answers from Janesh Kumar.
02:31Yes, Election Commission has issued a note, but BJP is saying that they have followed the entire democratic process.
02:37All right, appreciate you joining us.
02:38Piyush will be tracking all the latest on that.
