Kolkata, Oct 1 (PTI) The Nationalist Citizens Party of India has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar “deserves the nation’s highest recognition” for his role in conducting peaceful and credible Assembly elections in West Bengal.
Amid the opposition’s criticism of the CEC over a newspaper report of disquiet within the Election Commission over the SIR process, NCPI national president Jyoti Prokash Chatterjee praised the poll panel under Kumar’s leadership and said the 2026 West Bengal polls were held without bloodshed, intimidation or electoral malpractice.
In a letter to the prime minister sent on Wednesday, Chatterjee referred to the state’s history of political violence and allegations of electoral irregularities, and said the conduct of the polls this time had helped restore voters’ confidence in the electoral process.
“By upholding the independence, neutrality and discipline of the Election Commission, Kumar has reinforced the foundation of the Constitution and strengthened the faith of over a billion citizens in the ballot,” he said in the letter.
“For these contributions, I humbly submit that Gyanesh Kumar deserves the nation’s highest recognition. Honouring him would also send a message to election officials across the country that dedication to fairness and integrity is valued by the Republic,” he said.
Asked about the request, NCPI parliamentary party chairperson and former TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said, “I have heard about the letter, but I am not aware of the details.”
The NCPI, a little-known political outfit, emerged as a new player in Bengal politics after 20 TMC MPs crossed over following Mamata Banerjee’s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
The breakaway MPs subsequently extended support to the BJP-led NDA.
With the NCPI not fielding candidates in the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly bypolls, its president Jyoti Prokash Chatterjee had said the party would campaign for the BJP nominees as part of its alignment with the NDA. PTI PNT NSD
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