West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Arrives in Delhi Amid Electoral Roll Dispute
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the national capital on Monday, marking a significant development in her ongoing confrontation with the Election Commission of India. Her visit was immediately met with a tense standoff with Delhi Police personnel stationed outside Banga Bhavan, setting the stage for a day of high-stakes political drama.
Confrontation with Delhi Police Outside Banga Bhavan
Upon her arrival, Banerjee voiced strong protest against what she perceived as excessive police deployment. "We came here for justice," she declared emphatically, warning that "such threats cannot continue." The chief minister directly questioned the heavy police presence, instructing officers to move away and clarifying that she had no intention of staging any agitation or protest at the location.
Taking strong exception to the treatment she received, Banerjee drew a sharp comparison with the hospitality extended to Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visits to West Bengal. "When the home minister comes to Bengal, we give him the red carpet. But when we come to Delhi, you give us the black carpet," she remarked, highlighting what she viewed as differential treatment.
Allegations of Harassment and Appeal for Restraint
The Trinamool Congress leader went further to allege systematic harassment of people from Bengal, making an emotional appeal to authorities. "Please restrain yourself from the atrocities, from the torture of the Bengal people who have lost their lives," Banerjee stated during the confrontation. She emphasized her determination to fight for justice, asserting that "If no one fights in this country, I will fight, our party will fight."
Banerjee explained that she was in Delhi primarily for a press conference at Banga Bhavan and expressed concern that "The people of Delhi don't know what's happening in Bengal." She noted that she had received concerning information just before her departure and hadn't even changed her clothes, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Meeting with Election Commission Officials
Later in the day, Banerjee was scheduled to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at the Election Commission headquarters. She led a 15-member Trinamool Congress delegation that included party National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The visit comes amid escalating political tensions surrounding the poll body's ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
The delegation planned to formally register their "grave concerns over the biased, arbitrary, discriminatory, and politically motivated conduct of SIR in Bengal." According to an official TMC post on social media platform X, the delegation intended to present categorical demands and seek urgent corrective action, particularly noting that their repeated representations to the Election Commission had thus far been met with silence.
Nationwide Special Intensive Revision Exercise
The Special Intensive Revision exercise is currently underway across 12 states and union territories, with the final electoral roll scheduled for publication on February 7. The states and UTs involved in this nationwide exercise include:
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Chhattisgarh
- Goa
- Gujarat
- Kerala
- Lakshadweep
- Madhya Pradesh
- Puducherry
- Rajasthan
- Tamil Nadu
- Uttar Pradesh
- West Bengal
The political showdown in Delhi highlights the deepening rift between the West Bengal government and central election authorities, with Banerjee positioning herself as a defender of Bengal's interests against what she perceives as unfair treatment and procedural irregularities in the crucial electoral revision process.
