The Election Commission of India has launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a sworn affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, accusing her of attempting to derail the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls through what it described as “misleading and inflammatory” public statements.
In the affidavit, the poll body alleged that the chief minister used press briefings and public messaging to create panic among voters by spreading incorrect information about the SIR exercise. According to the Election Commission, these statements were not merely political criticism but a deliberate effort to weaken public trust in the voter list revision process.
The Commission claimed that West Bengal stands out from other states due to the unusually high level of resistance faced by election officials during the revision drive. It told the court that misinformation circulating at the ground level has led to hostility, intimidation, and even violent incidents targeting its staff. The affidavit stated that officials involved in door-to-door verification have been threatened, making the process increasingly difficult.
Mamata Banerjee has been openly opposing the SIR since its rollout in the state. In her most recent communication to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, she alleged that the exercise has shifted from correcting voter details to deleting names from electoral rolls. This was her third formal letter raising objections since the revision process began, signaling growing political tension around the issue.
Amid the controversy, the Election Commission has indicated that it may push back the release of West Bengal’s final voter list. The electoral rolls were earlier scheduled to be published on February 14, following hearings that were to conclude by February 7. However, the Commission told the court that meeting the deadline while fully complying with judicial directions may not be feasible.
“Implementing all instructions within the existing timeframe is proving difficult,” the Commission noted, suggesting that additional time could be required to ensure fairness and accuracy.
