West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee writes to EC, demands halt to SIR if 'lapses' not addressed

Kolkata: Alleging irregularities, procedural violations and administrative lapses in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday demanded a halt to the process if the required corrections are not made.

What is Mamata Banerjee’s message?

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Trinamool Congress supremo claimed that "undue haste" and "lack of adequate groundwork" had hobbled the SIR process in West Bengal. She claimed that a host of lapses, including faulty IT systems, inconsistent instructions and inadequate training of officials entrusted with the exercise have added to the chaos.

"The undue haste with which the SIR is being conducted, without adequate groundwork or preparation, has rendered the entire process fundamentally flawed," the Trinamool Congress leader's letter read.

“There has been no proper or uniform training of officials entrusted with this sensitive constitutional responsibility... instructions issued from time to time are inconsistent and often contradictory; and there is a complete lack of clarity and planning on the part of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and its State-level functionaries,” she added.

The ongoing roll revision in the form of the SIR, which is being conducted in 12 states and UTs has been a bone of contention between the BJP and various opposition parties, including the Congress and the TMC.

What has been the TMC stand?

Even before it started in West Bengal late last year, the TMC has been consistently speaking against the SIR, although its cadre have facilitated the process in the state at the ground level.

"Shockingly, critical instructions are being issued almost on a daily basis, frequently through informal channels such as WhatsApp messages and text messages. No proper written notifications, circulars, or statutory orders—mandatory for an exercise of such magnitude and constitutional significance—are being issued," the letter further said.

She warned that the poll body will have to address her concerns immediately or halt the SIR process.

“In view of the foregoing, I strongly urge you to immediately address and rectify the glitches, address the flaws and make the necessary corrections, failing which this unplanned, arbitrary and adhoc exercise must be halted,” she said.