Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India over the deletion of voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, announcing that her party will move court again to challenge the exclusions.
Her remarks came after nearly 91 lakh names were removed from the electoral rolls following the revision process. According to official data, over 90.83 lakh voters were deleted from an initial voter base of 7.66 crore as of October 2025.
Addressing a rally in Hooghly district, Banerjee asserted that electoral victories cannot be secured by removing voters’ names and said her party would take legal steps to restore those excluded. She had earlier approached the Supreme Court of India in February seeking intervention in the SIR process.
Criticising the poll panel, the Trinamool Congress chief questioned the fairness of freezing electoral rolls after such large-scale deletions. She said the party would fight constitutionally to ensure that eligible voters regain their right to vote.
Banerjee also accused the BJP of attempting to influence the electoral process and alleged that the Election Commission was acting under pressure from the ruling party at the Centre. She further claimed that voters were being intimidated through phone calls.
During multiple rallies across Hooghly, including Arambagh, Balagarh, and Sreerampore, the chief minister escalated her attack, alleging that the BJP was trying to divide West Bengal under the guise of delimitation. She also made controversial remarks suggesting that a BJP government in the state would impact cultural and dietary practices.
The BJP has not yet responded to the allegations. The developments signal a deepening political confrontation in the state ahead of upcoming elections.
