West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India on Tuesday, accusing it of employing mobile applications developed by the BJP's IT cell to conduct the Special Summary Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
Allegations of Unethical and Undemocratic Practices
The Chief Minister made these serious allegations while speaking to reporters in Gangasagar, located in South 24 Parganas district. She had just concluded a two-day visit to Sagar Island. During her visit, Banerjee laid the foundation stone for the Gangasagar Setu and reviewed preparations for the upcoming Gangasagar Mela, which is scheduled to commence on Thursday.
"The EC is making wrong moves," Banerjee stated emphatically. She detailed her grievances, claiming that the process was deeply flawed. "The living are being shown as 'dead' in the rolls. Elderly citizens, who are ill or indisposed, are being arbitrarily called for hearings," she explained. The CM directly linked these issues to the technology being used. "The apps that are developed by BJP's IT cell are unethical, unconstitutional and undemocratic. This cannot go on," Banerjee asserted.
Legal Recourse and Trinamool's Supreme Court Plea
Banerjee's comments came as a reaction to Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien moving a plea to the Supreme Court against the SIR exercise on the same day. The Chief Minister backed this legal move, stating that the election panel had resorted to arbitrary and procedurally irregular actions in conducting the revision of voter lists.
This was not the first time the CM had threatened legal action. On Monday, during her Gangasagar visit, she had declared her intention to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the SIR process. She had even indicated that she was prepared to plead the case herself before the apex court if the situation demanded it.
The Context of the Gangasagar Visit
The political accusations were set against the backdrop of the Chief Minister's official engagements for the Gangasagar project and pilgrimage fair. Her visit underscored the state government's focus on infrastructure and the management of the large-scale mela. However, the controversy surrounding the electoral roll revision dominated her interactions with the press, highlighting the escalating tensions between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the central election authority ahead of future polls.
The allegations raise significant questions about the neutrality of the electoral process and the tools used in its administration. With the matter now poised to be heard by the Supreme Court, the political and legal battle over the SIR in West Bengal is set to intensify.
