West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has issued a strong appeal to the Election Commission of India, urging it to immediately halt the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. She has warned that the current process, if not corrected, could lead to the mass disenfranchisement of eligible voters.
Chief Minister's Stern Warning to Poll Body
In a significant political development, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has directly called upon the Election Commission (EC) to intervene. She has demanded that the commission implement immediate corrective measures to address the flaws in the revision exercise. Banerjee stated that failing such corrective steps, the entire Special Intensive Revision process must be stopped. She characterized the current drive as an "arbitrary and unplanned exercise" that is undermining the democratic rights of citizens.
The Core Issue: Fears of Voter Exclusion
The chief minister's primary concern revolves around the potential for large-scale removal of legitimate voters from the electoral list. The SIR is a special drive undertaken by the Election Commission to intensively review and update the voter rolls. However, Banerjee's administration alleges that the process in Bengal is being carried out in a haphazard manner, without proper verification or transparency. This, she argues, could illegally strip voting rights from a significant portion of the electorate, leading to what she terms "mass disenfranchisement."
Timeline and Political Context
The appeal was made public on January 4, 2026. The timing is crucial as any major revision of voter lists has direct implications for the political landscape of the state. Banerjee's Trinamool Congress party has historically raised concerns about the neutrality of central agencies and constitutional bodies in the state's electoral processes. This latest move is seen as a preemptive strike to safeguard her party's voter base ahead of future elections.
The Chief Minister's office has not yet detailed the specific irregularities observed, but the call for an immediate halt underscores the seriousness of the allegations. The ball is now in the Election Commission's court to review the claims, investigate the conduct of the SIR in West Bengal, and decide on the next course of action. The EC's response will be closely watched, as it will set a precedent for how such revision exercises are conducted across the country.
