West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has declared she will approach the Supreme Court on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, to legally challenge the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. She announced her intention to appear before the apex court "as an ordinary citizen" and not in her capacity as a lawyer or the state's chief minister.
Public Declaration at Gangasagar Gathering
Addressing a large public meeting in Gangasagar, South 24 Parganas district, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo stated she would seek special permission to plead the case herself. "If necessary, I will go to the Supreme Court and plead for the people. I will speak for the people," Banerjee asserted. She emphasized her unique approach, saying, "I will not go as a lawyer, although I am a lawyer. As an ordinary citizen, I can certainly speak my mind."
Her objective is to highlight the alleged ground-level harassment and the impact of the SIR process. "I will take permission to speak my mind and try to show clearly what is happening at the grassroots level, what is happening on the ground, and how people are being harassed," she added, directly accusing the BJP of orchestrating the exercise.
Allegations of AI-Powered Voter Disenfranchisement
Banerjee escalated her accusations against the Election Commission and the central government, claiming a "technological conspiracy" was underway. She alleged that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and informal messaging platforms were being weaponized to remove legitimate voters from the rolls ahead of the crucial 2026 Assembly elections.
"Listen, Artificial Intelligence has emerged now... using my image and voice, they can spread many lies. There are fake videos," she warned the public. She made a stunning claim: "AI is deciding whose surname has changed, who got married, and which girl has gone to her in-laws' house. Names have been removed using AI." Banerjee stated that the names of 54 lakh people had been removed in this manner.
She further criticized the Commission's methods, sarcastically remarking, "The Election Commission is being run on WhatsApp. Who knows if they have bought WhatsApp or not." Banerjee claimed the process had led to immense suffering, with elderly citizens, pregnant women, and even voters on oxygen support being summoned for hearings.
Legal Escalation Following Letters to CEC
The decision to move the Supreme Court follows a series of strongly-worded letters from the Chief Minister to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. On Sunday, January 5, she expressed "grave concerns" over what she termed a "fundamentally flawed" SIR exercise.
In her letter, she demanded the "unplanned, arbitrary, and ad hoc" process be immediately rectified or halted to prevent a "direct assault on the foundational principles of democratic governance." This was preceded by another letter last week where she accused the Election Commission of reducing democracy to a "farce."
Banerjee framed the court move as a fight for existence. "It might be a bit troublesome, but this is a struggle to protect your rights. This is a fight for existence," she told the crowd, urging them to check their names on the draft SIR list. She revealed the legal petition would be filed against the "inhumane treatment and the death of so many people due to the SIR," claiming nearly 70 people had died since the exercise began and several had attempted suicide.
The political confrontation intensifies as the state prepares for elections to its 294-member Assembly in three months, with the TMC seeking a historic fourth consecutive term. The Election Commission's draft roll published on December 16 showed the electorate shrinking from 7.66 crore to 7.08 crore after the deletion of over 58 lakh names. The second phase of hearings, which began on December 27, scrutinizes 1.67 crore electors.
