In a dramatic escalation of her ongoing confrontation with the Election Commission of India, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared on Monday that she would personally move the Supreme Court against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. She announced she would plead her case not as a lawyer or Chief Minister, but as an ordinary citizen to protect democratic rights.
Public Declaration at Gangasagar Gathering
The Trinamool Congress supremo made this significant announcement while addressing a massive public gathering at Gangasagar in South 24 Parganas district on January 6, 2026. She stated she would seek special permission to appear before the apex court. "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. I will take permission to speak my mind and try to show clearly what is happening at the grassroots level." She accused the BJP of trying to manipulate the process but vowed they would not succeed.
Allegations of AI-Driven Disenfranchisement and Deaths
Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the SIR process, alleging a "technological conspiracy" where Artificial Intelligence and informal messaging platforms are being weaponized. She claimed this was done to "disenfranchise millions of voters" ahead of the crucial 2026 Assembly elections in the state, due in just three months.
"Listen, Artificial Intelligence has emerged now. Often, you’ll see it’s not me. But using my image and voice, they can spread many lies. There are fake videos," she warned the public. She made the startling claim that AI was being used to decide whose surname had changed, who got married, and which girl had gone to her in-laws’ house, leading to arbitrary name deletions.
The Chief Minister presented grave statistics, alleging that nearly 70 people had died since the SIR exercise began, with several others attempting suicide. She criticized the process for harassing elderly citizens, pregnant women, and voters on oxygen support by calling them for hearings. "After living in this country for so long, do they still need to prove that they are voters and citizens?" she questioned.
Formal Letters and Electoral Roll Data
Banerjee's decision to approach the Supreme Court follows a series of sharply worded letters to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. In a letter on Sunday, January 5, she expressed "grave concerns," describing the SIR as "fundamentally flawed," "unplanned, arbitrary, and ad hoc." She warned that if not rectified immediately, it must be halted to prevent a "direct assault on the foundational principles of democratic governance."
The hard data underpinning the controversy is stark. On December 16, the Election Commission published the draft electoral roll after the first phase of the SIR. It showed the state's electorate had plummeted from 7.66 crore to 7.08 crore, following the deletion of over 58 lakh names. Banerjee specifically claimed the names of 54 lakh people had been removed.
The second phase of the SIR, which began on December 27, involves hearings for a staggering 1.67 crore electors under scrutiny. This includes 1.36 crore flagged for logical discrepancies and 31 lakh whose records lack proper mapping.
A Political and Legal Battle for Existence
Urging people to check their names on the draft list, Banerjee framed the issue as a fundamental struggle. "It might be a bit troublesome, but this is a struggle to protect your rights. This is a fight for existence. One must survive in this struggle," she stated.
She issued a direct warning to CEC Gyanesh Kumar, saying, "If people’s rights are taken away, you too will vanish." She also mocked the Commission's methods, alleging, "The Election Commission is being run on WhatsApp. Who knows if they have bought WhatsApp or not."
The TMC, seeking a straight fourth term in the 294-member Assembly, is now preparing to escalate this battle to the highest court. Banerjee confirmed, "We are moving court tomorrow against the inhumane treatment and the death of so many people due to the SIR," indicating her readiness for a prolonged legal fight to safeguard voter rights in West Bengal.
