Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has raised serious concerns over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, claiming that nearly 1.20 crore names could be removed from the state’s voter list. The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on February 28.
Addressing reporters after inaugurating and laying foundation stones for several projects in her Bhabanipur constituency in Kolkata, Mamata accused the Election Commission of acting under the influence of a political party. She alleged that valid voters are being removed on the grounds of “logical discrepancies.”
According to the Chief Minister, 58 lakh voters’ names were deleted in the first phase of the revision. She further claimed that by February 14, at least 20 lakh more valid voters had been removed from the rolls. “Around 1.20 crore names may be struck off,” she said, expressing apprehension over the scale of deletions.
Mamata asserted that she would continue to raise her voice against the removal of any legitimate voter. She also stated that she had taken legal steps against the Election Commission in the Supreme Court. Alleging procedural irregularities, she claimed that despite court directives, the Commission has continued issuing instructions via WhatsApp.
The Election Commission has not yet responded publicly to these specific allegations. The matter is likely to gain political significance as the state moves closer to upcoming electoral processes.
