Wednesday’s meeting between the Election Commission and the Trinamool Congress delegation, ending on an acrimonious note, should worry anyone who values democratic propriety.

When constitutional authorities and elected representatives begin to speak past each other in raised voices and mutual suspicion, the real casualty is not political prestige but public trust.

The Chief Election Commissioner is not expected to be a combatant. The office demands restraint, neutrality, and an almost judicial temperament. Yet, the continuing confrontational posture of the Commission, particularly in relation to West Bengal, raises disturbing questions.

Why should the Commission appear so combative when it comes to a single state? The perception—rightly or wrongly—that it is locked in a political tussle undermines its credibility as an impartial umpire.

Electoral roll........

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