Mamata escalates attack on ECI over SIR, accuses state CEO of threatening officers

Addressing a press conference at her office Nabanna, Mamata accused the Centre of conducting the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the name of SIR.

The Chief Minister said, "The Government of India and BJP are using the agencies for political benefits as per the directions of one Mir Jafar, who thinks he will speak the last word. But if they try anything like this then starting from riots, other cases against them will also be exposed. The cat will be out of the bag.

"Right after Durga Puja, there was a horrible natural calamity, people are still suffering and have suffered great losses.. Meanwhile, BJP has started sending NRC notices so what does that mean? Is this NRC in disguise of SIR? Do they want to capture Bengal by force? They will never be successful because the people of Bengal don't trust them."

"SIR is being used to remove the names of voters... How does the Assam government send NRC notices to people of Bengal?

"How can a central minister from the BJP claim 1.5 crore voters will be deleted even before the SIR process began? Does this mean, the plan is hatched by BJP in its party office and the Election Commission is only there to approve it? This is a way to deprive citizens of their democratic rights," she added.

Mamata trained her guns at the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) accusing him of threatening officers and warned him to not act beyond his jurisdiction.

"A lot of allegations are there against the state CEO. I will reveal them at an appropriate time. I hope the state CEO will not act beyond his authority. He is unnecessarily threatening officers. The State CEO himself is accused in a number of corruption cases," she said.

Hitting back at Mamata, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya wrote on X, "...  The only remaining source of hope and support for West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress now lies in illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh and Rohingyas. It is their votes that keep the Trinamool in power. Mamata Banerjee knows very well that if the voter list becomes transparent, no genuine Indian will vote for the Trinamool."

Mamata's rant comes at a time when an ECI team led by Deputy Election Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti is conducting high-level meetings in West Bengal to review the preparedness for the drive in the state, which goes to polls in 2026 summer.

Speaking to the reporters on Wednesday, Mamata accused the BJP of deliberately deleting voters' names in the poll-bound state through the Election Commission of India.

She also warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not trusting his lieutenant Amit Shah.

Mamata said, "Cuttack is on the boil. BJP itself has created a riot there. I am sorry to say but BJP will ruin the country. I have seen many governments but not as arrogant and dictatorial like the present one. They should remember power is transient. Nothing is permanent. They want to eliminate the names of voters through SIR. Is it possible to conduct SIR within 15 days amid natural calamities, rainy season and festivals. What do they think of themselves?

"Will it be a commission of the BJP or for the civic rights? This is Amit Shah's game. He is working as the acting Prime Minister but the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) knows everything. I am sorry to say. We can request the Prime Minister 'Don't trust Amit Shah always' otherwise he will turn out to be your Mir Jafar (18th century military general infamous for his betrayal of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah) one day. He should be careful. Morning shows the day."

Shah, a former BJP president, is the de facto number two of the country's ruling party, which is spearheaded by Prime Minister Modi.

The SIR had earlier triggered a massive confrontation between the State and ECI after the local government had initially refused to suspend four officers, who were allegedly involved in the electoral roll discrepancies.

After West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant was summoned to Delhi by the ECI, the four officers were suspended within the deadline fixed by the poll body.

Though initially Mamata and her party dared to not allow SIR in the state, later they toned down at various scales and said they won't allow the poll body to delete a single name unjustifiably from the electoral rolls.