West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday strongly criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is “deeply flawed” and has resulted in living citizens being wrongly declared dead.
Addressing party leaders and workers, Banerjee said the revision exercise was causing widespread harassment and confusion among voters, particularly the poor, elderly and migrant populations. She claimed that names of genuine voters were being deleted arbitrarily, raising serious questions about the intent and execution of the process.
Allegations of mass voter exclusion
Banerjee alleged that several citizens in West Bengal had approached authorities after discovering they were officially marked as deceased despite being alive. “How can living people be declared dead? This is nothing short of administrative failure and political manipulation,” she said, accusing the BJP of using the SIR exercise to influence voter lists ahead of elections.
She warned that such errors could disenfranchise thousands of voters and undermine public trust in democratic institutions.
Demand for accountability and transparency
The Chief Minister demanded immediate corrective measures and greater transparency from the Election Commission. She urged officials to conduct door-to-door verification with sensitivity and ensure that no eligible voter is removed without due process.
“The revision of electoral rolls should strengthen democracy, not weaken it,” Banerjee said, adding that her government would extend all cooperation but would not tolerate harassment of citizens.
BJP yet to respond
While the BJP has not officially responded to Banerjee’s allegations, party leaders in the past have defended the SIR process, stating that it is a routine exercise aimed at removing duplicate and invalid entries from voter lists.
Political temperature rises
The remarks have further escalated political tensions in West Bengal, with the SIR exercise emerging as a flashpoint between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP. Opposition leaders have accused Banerjee of politicising an administrative process, while the TMC maintains that voter rights are being compromised.
The controversy has reignited debate over electoral roll accuracy, data verification methods and the balance between administrative efficiency and citizens’ rights.
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