Mamata Banerjee's SIR Battle: A Strategic Move Ahead of Bengal Polls
As West Bengal gears up for the crucial Assembly elections, Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee has launched a fierce offensive against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This move is not merely a political spectacle but a calculated strategy to safeguard her party's electoral fortunes, particularly in light of concerns over potential voter deletions that could disproportionately affect minority communities.
The Delhi Confrontation and Supreme Court Challenge
In a dramatic escalation, Mamata Banerjee led a TMC delegation, dressed in black, to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi. The delegation included individuals allegedly affected by the SIR process, such as those wrongly declared dead or families of those who succumbed to SIR pressure. The meeting ended abruptly, with Mamata storming out and accusing the EC of insulting her team and acting at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Earlier, she confronted Delhi police at Banga Bhawan, alleging harassment of the SIR-affected families. Concurrently, Mamata has filed a petition in the Supreme Court to challenge the SIR exercise, underscoring the legal and political dimensions of this conflict. These actions highlight her proactive approach to counter what she perceives as an existential threat to her party's dominance.
Core Concerns: Voter Deletions and Minority Votes
At the heart of Mamata's agitation is the fear that the SIR process could lead to the deletion of a significant number of voters from the final electoral list, scheduled for publication on February 14. With over one crore voters facing hearings for logical discrepancies in their forms, the CM is particularly worried about the potential loss of minority voters, who constitute more than 27% of Bengal's population.
Since ousting the CPI(M)-led Left Front in 2011, the TMC has relied heavily on Muslim support to secure victories. Any erosion in this vote bank could spell trouble in several seats, making Mamata's aggressive stance a crucial effort to rally minorities around the SIR issue. This is especially pertinent given recent discontent among Muslims over issues like changes in the OBC list and the implementation of the amended Waqf law.
Grassroots Challenges and Electoral Preparedness
Despite the TMC's overwhelming grassroots dominance, Mamata is facing challenges even in her own Assembly seat of Bhawanipur in Kolkata. Reports indicate that about 45,000 voters were deleted in the draft voter list, prompting her to convene a meeting of local leaders and booth-level agents. She directed them to compile lists of deleted electors and those called for hearings, emphasizing door-to-door outreach to ensure a foolproof voter list.
In the 2021 by-election, Mamata won Bhawanipur by 58,835 votes, but the margin in the earlier Assembly polls was 28,719 votes, highlighting the need for meticulous electoral management. Her intervention reflects a hands-on approach to mitigate risks at the micro-level, even as she battles broader political narratives.
Countering BJP Narratives and Legal Hurdles
Mamata is also contending with high-profile campaigns from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. At a rally in Singur, PM Modi criticized the TMC government's anti-industry policies, prompting Mamata to hold a counter-rally announcing projects worth Rs 33,551 crore. This tit-for-tat underscores the intense political rivalry shaping the election discourse.
Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate has filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into alleged obstruction by Mamata during raids at I-PAC premises. Accused of tampering with evidence, Mamata has defiantly stated that her arrest would spark protests from Bengal's women. These legal battles add another layer of complexity to her campaign, forcing her to balance defensive and offensive strategies.
Wooing Hindu Voters and Regional Dynamics
Recognizing the importance of Hindu voters, Mamata has been laying foundation stones for temples like Durga Angan and Mahakal in New Town and Siliguri. This outreach is crucial in Hindu-dominated districts of North Bengal, where the BJP made significant inroads in the 2021 polls. By consolidating both Muslim and Hindu support, she aims to create a broad-based coalition to counter the BJP's advances.
In essence, Mamata Banerjee's battle over the SIR is a multifaceted strategy to address immediate electoral threats while reinforcing her image as a firebrand leader. As poll dates loom, her actions in Delhi and across Bengal signal a determined effort to turn potential vulnerabilities into political weapons, setting the stage for a fiercely contested election.
