West Bengal SIR: Mamata Banerjee accuses Election Commission of working for BJP; slams CEC Gyanesh Kumar

New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at the Election Commission office. After walking out of the meeting, she issued a statement leveling serious allegations against the Election Commission.

According to a TMC media statement, a 15-member delegation visited the Election Commission headquarters. The delegation included Mamata Banerjee, TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, party MP Kalyan Banerjee, and members of 12 families affected by the SIR (Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls) process.

What happened during the meeting?

The delegation that met the CEC, along with Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, included members of 12 families affected by the SIR process. Among the 12 people who met the CEC with Mamata, five are voters who were declared dead and whose names were removed from the voter list. Five others are family members of individuals who died after receiving SIR notices. Additionally, there were three family members whose BLO (Booth Level Officer) allegedly died due to work pressure.

According to media reports, Mamata Banerjee walked out of the Nirvachan Sadan in Delhi on Monday, alleging she was “insulted and humiliated” by chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

“I told him, I trust you, I have faith in you. But he refused to listen to us. We were insulted and humiliated. That is why we have boycotted the meeting,” Mamata Banerjee told the media outside the CEC’s office.

What did Mamata Banerjee say?

After the meeting with the CEC, Mamata Banerjee said, "I am very sad. I have been active in Delhi politics for a long time. I have been a minister four times and an MP seven times. I have never seen such an arrogant and dishonest Election Commissioner. I told him that I respect his chair, because no chair is permanent. One day you will have to leave... Why is Bengal being targeted? Elections are a festival of democracy, but you have removed the names of 98 lakh people and not given them a chance to defend themselves..."

What did the TMC say?

The TMC alleges that the ongoing SIR process in West Bengal is biased, arbitrary, discriminatory, and politically motivated, resulting in the denial of voters' rights. The Chief Minister and Abhishek Banerjee, along with these affected families, went to the Election Commission to register their serious concerns.

What are Mamata Banerjee's claims?

Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly alleged that the SIR process has created a climate of fear and tension in the state, leading to the deaths of at least 140-150 people. Advertisement

She said that many people were wrongly declared dead and their names were removed from the voter list to deprive them of their right to vote.

Upon arriving in Delhi, the Chief Minister met with the affected families at Bengal Bhavan and accused the Delhi Police of pressuring and surveilling Bengalis.

Why has Mamata Banerjee approached the Supreme Court?

Earlier, Mamata Banerjee had also filed a petition against the SIR (Special Summary Revision) in the Supreme Court, naming the Election Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal as parties. She alleged that this process was a conspiracy to disenfranchise legitimate voters under the guise of cleaning up the voter list, specifically targeting minority and poor communities.