KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday led a massive public rally in Kolkata to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being carried out across the state by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The demonstration, which coincided with the start of door-to-door verification for the SIR, drew thousands of supporters and senior TMC leaders, including party National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
The Chief Minister led the march from the statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on Red Road to Jorasanko Thakurbari, the ancestral home of Rabindranath Tagore, turning central Kolkata into a sea of green and white TMC flags. The protest marks one of the largest public mobilizations by the ruling party this year, reflecting the rising political tensions ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
Mamata’s Allegations: ‘SIR Is a Political Weapon’
Addressing the massive gathering, Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP-led central government of using the SIR process as a “political weapon” to manipulate the electoral rolls in opposition-ruled states.
“The Election Commission and BJP are hand-in-glove. They are planning a silent, invisible rigging by deleting the names of genuine voters,” Mamata said, warning that the revision drive could lead to the disenfranchisement of millions.
The Chief Minister alleged that the SIR exercise was being selectively implemented in states governed by opposition parties, including West Bengal, while ignoring similar discrepancies elsewhere.
“If even one eligible voter’s name is struck off, we will make sure this BJP government falls. No one will be allowed to snatch away your democratic right to vote,” she declared amid loud cheers from the crowd.
TMC’s Broader Narrative: NRC Parallels and Fear of Voter Deletion
The Trinamool Congress has compared the SIR process to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise, which triggered widespread panic in Assam. Party leaders claim the ongoing revision in West Bengal is a “backdoor attempt to create an NRC-like situation”, causing fear among ordinary citizens, especially in border districts.
TMC spokespersons have also cited reports of distress and alleged suicides linked to fears of being labelled “illegal voters” or “non-citizens.” The party has vowed to resist any move that could result in large-scale voter deletions, particularly among marginalized communities and minorities.
BJP and ECI’s Response
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dismissed Mamata Banerjee’s allegations as “baseless and politically motivated,” insisting that the SIR is a routine exercise mandated by the Election Commission to update and verify voter lists.
State BJP President Sukanta Majumdar stated, “The Chief Minister is trying to create unnecessary panic. The SIR is meant to remove fake, duplicate, or deceased voters — not genuine citizens.”
The Election Commission of India, in an official statement, clarified that the Special Intensive Revision is being conducted to ensure the accuracy and transparency of the electoral database and that all citizens will have adequate opportunities to verify and restore their voter status if erroneously omitted.
Political Impact and Public Sentiment
The rally has further intensified the ongoing political confrontation between the TMC and BJP in West Bengal. Analysts note that the issue of voter rights and citizenship has become a potent political weapon, with the TMC seeking to frame the revision as an attack on democracy, while the BJP maintains it is part of electoral cleansing and reform.
For now, the SIR controversy has reignited fears of bureaucratic disenfranchisement and given the Trinamool Congress a fresh populist platform from which to challenge both the Centre and the Election Commission in the months ahead.
