The Supreme Court of India has recently closed a petition filed by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which challenged the Election Commission’s (EC) decision to appoint Union government employees as supervisors during the counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly elections. This development surfaces amidst the politically charged environment following the two phases of polling conducted on April 23 and April 29.

On Saturday, a bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi stated that there was no need for further orders, as the Election Commission assured that it would adhere to an earlier directive dated April 13, which mandates the presence of state government nominees at all counting venues. This decision has raised significant discussions among political observers and party workers alike, given the ongoing tension between the TMC and the BJP.

The court took note of the Election Commission’s commitment to fully implement this directive, emphasizing that it must be followed in both spirit and letter. The TMC’s apprehensions stem from a belief that Union government employees could be influenced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is often seen as a rival force in West Bengal’s political landscape. TMC leaders have argued that this could compromise the integrity of the counting process.

Earlier this week, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer instructed that at least one representative from the Union government be present at each counting station, a move that was met with immediate opposition from the TMC. The party’s petition was initially dismissed by the Calcutta High Court, which upheld the CEO’s directive, leading them to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court.

As the state gears up for the counting of votes scheduled for Monday, the political atmosphere remains charged, particularly with the repolling that took place on Saturday at 15 polling stations in the South 24 Parganas district. This backdrop of contention highlights the fierce competition among political parties in West Bengal, where each vote is seen as a critical indicator of public sentiment.