At a large Eid-Ul-Fitr prayer gathering on Red Road in Kolkata on Saturday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress (TMC) National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee extended festive greetings while launching sharp political attacks over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
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Addressing the crowd, Mamata reaffirmed her firm opposition to the revision process, stating that her โbattle will continueโ to ensure that no legitimate voter is excluded.
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Pledging her unwavering support to the people, she stated, “I have rushed to Delhi and the Supreme Court; I will go to any extent to ensure that not a single name is omitted from the list.”
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In a pointed remark aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mamata criticised his foreign engagements, alleging that while he engages internationally, actions are being taken domestically to remove names from voter lists. She also accused BJP of undermining democratic processes, intensifying the political rhetoric ahead of the Assembly elections.
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Echoing similar concerns, Abhishek accused forces of attempting to create divisions among communities in the state. Emphasising unity, he stated that people of Bengal would resist such efforts and uphold communal harmony.
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The political tensions come as West Bengal prepares for Assembly elections scheduled in two phases on April 23 and 29. The ruling TMC has already announced candidates for 291 seats and recently unveiled its election manifesto. Mamata also indicated that the partyโs full-scale campaign would begin immediately after Eid.
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The SIR process, which involves updating electoral rolls, has become a major point of contention between the state government and the Centre. According to official data, over 60 lakh voter entries were initially marked as โunder adjudicationโ following the draft publication on February 28. While around 22 lakh cases have reportedly been resolved, concerns remain over potential large-scale deletions.
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Mamata claimed that nearly 10 lakh names could be removed from the โresolved casesโ, with the highest number of deletions allegedly occurring in districts such as Malda, Murshidabad, North and South Dinajpur districts. She further alleged that individuals across communitiesโincluding minorities, as well as Hindu, Matua, and Rajbanshi groupsโare being affected.
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The publication of the supplementary voter list, initially expected on Friday, has been postponed to Monday, adding to the uncertainty. Mamata questioned whether the entire revision process would be completed before polling begins.
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With legal challenges underway and political rhetoric intensifying, the dispute over electoral rolls is emerging as a central issue in the run-up to the West Bengal Assembly elections.