The Trinamul Congress wants general elections in the country under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

Political observers felt that the SC-monitored Lok Sabha (LS) polls seems an unheard of strategy by any political party in the country, particularly at the backdrop against when dates of parliamentary elections have already been announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

On Tuesday, Derek O’ Brian, Trinamul Congress Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson of the ruling party in West Bengal, in his X handle proposed, “We want Supreme Court monitoring election 2024.”

Mr Brian wondered whether the BJP is so nervous of facing the people that it is turning the ECI into ‘its party office’.

“BJP’s filthy tricks destroying institutions like the Election Commission of India. Are BJP so nervous to face people that they are turning into a party office to target the Opposition? ECI or His Master’s Voice?” He posted on social media.

“Transferring officers of elected State govts. For free and fair elections,” his post stated.

The ECI’s decision to appoint Vivek Sahay, director general (home guard) as the new director general of police (DGP) removing Rajeev Kumar on Monday ahead of the seven-phase LS polls beginning from 19 April in the state has made the Trinamul Congress leadership disappointed. As a sequel to the removal of Mr Kumar from DGP portfolio has prompted Mr O’ Brian to attack the rival saffron party through his X handle, political observers felt.

Interestingly, the ECI today made Sanjay Mukherjee, DG (fire), DGP removing Mr Sahay, once suspended by the national poll panel, from the post of super cop in the state within less than 24 hours.

“Our party leadership is also considering the idea of the SC-monitored LS polls in the country. Derek has already floated the proposal through his X handle post today,” Trinamul Congress leaders Sagarika Ghosh and Babul Supriya said in Delhi while speaking to reporters today.

The decision by the ECI prompted a political duel between the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP, with the saffron camp welcoming the move.