In a move that sparked a fresh round of political exchanges, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Monday announced the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states, subtly reminding the West Bengal government to "follow the Constitution" amid growing political tensions over the exercise.
When asked about Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders' warning to protest if the SIR is conducted in West Bengal, Kumar asserted that no one should act "against the Constitution."
Reacting sharply, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh cautioned that his party would launch a massive protest if genuine voters' names were removed during the revision process.
“Our Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party’s national secretary Abhishek Banerjee were the first to demand correction in the voter’s list. But in the name of SIR, if someone is planning to delete names of genuine voters, then it won’t be tolerated,” said Ghosh.
He further warned, “If any genuine voters’ name is deleted, then TMC will gherao the Election Commission of India’s office at the national capital with one lakh TMC workers.”
Taking aim at the BJP, Ghosh added, “I would ask people of the state not to fall into the trap of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP is saying if some genuine voter’s name is deleted, then they will help in person in getting the name included. Why will any genuine voter’s name be deleted?”
In contrast, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari welcomed the Election Commission’s decision, stating that the revision will help remove “illegal voters” from the rolls.
The announcement comes amid reports that the West Bengal government had transferred at least 70 officials before and after the Election Commission’s declaration of the SIR, raising questions over administrative motives and preparedness.
Political analyst Biswanath Chakraborty noted that the SIR process could influence the timing of the next Assembly polls in the state.
“Going by the time limit that the exercise would take, the Assembly election in Bengal cannot be held before April 2026. With the transfer of officials, it is clear that the state government got shaken,” observed Chakraborty.
