West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote to the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking an immediate halt to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, calling the process “deeply alarming” and “chaotic”.
CM Flags Safety Concerns, Calls Process Unplanned
In her letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Banerjee alleged that the SIR is being executed in a coercive manner, risking the safety of booth-level officers (BLOs) and citizens.
She cited gaps in training, confusion regarding documentation, and the inability of BLOs to reach voters during working hours. The chief minister also highlighted the recent suicide of an anganwadi worker in Jalpaiguri allegedly due to SIR-related pressure.
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Banerjee urged the EC to “halt the exercise, stop coercive measures, and reassess the methodology and timelines” to protect the integrity of the democratic process.
BJP Hits Back, Calls Letter Proof of TMC ‘Desperation’
Reacting strongly, the BJP accused Banerjee of fearing voter-list corrections that may impact TMC’s electoral prospects.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said TMC was “rattled” because the SIR would remove bogus voters and infiltration-linked entries that allegedly benefited the ruling party.
Amit Malviya, head of BJP’s IT Cell, claimed Banerjee was “panicking” ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Suvendu Adhikari termed her objections “misleading”, saying SIR is a routine process.
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TMC Defends CM’s Stand
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh defended Banerjee’s letter, asserting that BLOs’ deaths and distress justified her intervention. He accused the EC of acting under BJP’s pressure and questioned the role of the BSF in border-related issues.
