Kolkata: Several BJP workers and supporters across the state set a picture of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar with the message ‘I support Gyanesh Kumar’ as their display pictures on social media after calls from BJP-linked handles to do the same on Sunday.BJP seniors said the move was not a directive from the party but “organic support” for the CEC for conducting free, fair and violence-free elections in Bengal.“There was no directive from the party regarding any change in social media profiles. People have seen how the Election Commission ensured a fair and violence-free election this time,” a senior BJP functionary said.The message circulating on social media urging the change in display picture called for building a “mass counter movement” in support of the CEC.Earlier, Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya had said CEC Kumar should be conferred the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honour, for cleaning up the state’s voter roll.Bengal panchayat minister Dilip Ghosh said, “There is more politics than genuine debate on the (Gyanesh Kumar) issue. Kumar occupies a constitutional post and the gravity of such a post should not be diluted.”Union minister Sukanta Majumdar said opposition parties were unhappy with the CEC because he put an end to their “misdeeds” and they had to shut shop.“They (opposition parties) were defeated when Kumar was not CEC. They will be defeated again,” he added.
