BJP leaders in West Bengal on Saturday hailed the Supreme Court’s refusal to interfere with the Election Commission’s decision to appoint Central government and PSU employees as counting supervisors and assistants, dismissing Trinamool Congress’s plea against a Calcutta High Court order. The apex court, however, directed that the poll panel’s circular providing for state government nominees must be followed “in letter and spirit.” Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya accused Trinamool of wasting taxpayers’ money on legal fees, while Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar alleged the party wanted state employees involved in counting due to their political links. BJP leaders Dilip Ghosh and Majumdar also took swipes at Trinamool MPs and lawyers, framing the plea as an attempt to obstruct the ECI’s decision.
Trinamool leaders, meanwhile, downplayed the ruling, with state minister Shashi Panja stressing respect for the judgment and MP Saugata Roy calling it “not a major setback.” The party maintained it had sought inclusion of both state and central employees in counting teams. The Supreme Court disposed of the plea after recording the ECI’s assurance that vote counting on May 4 would take place in the presence of state government nominees as per its circular. The order has sharpened political sparring in Bengal, with BJP portraying the verdict as a rejection of Trinamool’s objections, while Trinamool emphasized compliance and vigilance as counting day approaches.