'Unplanned, coercive': Mamata Banerjee writes to CEC for SIR halt

In her letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Banerjee described the exercise as “chaotic, coercive and dangerously unplanned,” arguing that it is exposing voters and officials to unnecessary risks.

“I am compelled to write because the SIR process has reached a deeply alarming stage. The way this revision is being pushed on both citizens and officials is not only disorderly but hazardous,” she said.

The chief minister said the entire operation has been riddled with confusion—from inadequate training to unclear documentation requirements—and that booth-level officers (BLOs) are struggling to contact voters during regular work hours.

She urged the EC to “intervene decisively, halt the coercive measures, provide proper training and support, and reassess the current methodology and deadlines.”

Flagging the human toll, Banerjee cited the death by suicide of an anganwadi worker from Mal, Jalpaiguri, who was serving as a BLO and was reportedly under severe pressure related to the SIR.

She said several others have also died since the revision process began.

“If this course is not corrected immediately, the damage—to the system, to officials, and to citizens—will be irreversible. Protecting the integrity of our electoral process and democratic framework requires urgent intervention,” she wrote.

BJP responds: ‘A sign of panic’

The BJP swiftly countered Banerjee’s allegations, saying her letter reflects fear within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) ahead of the upcoming elections.

Party national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said on X that Banerjee’s concerns show that the TMC’s “top leadership is rattled.”

“For years, TMC benefitted from illegal infiltration and bogus voters. Now that the SIR is removing fake entries, Mamata is panicking. A nervous, desperate TMC is trying to save the ecosystem that helped it cling to power,” he wrote.

Amit Malviya, BJP IT Cell head, echoed the criticism, saying Banerjee is resorting to “complaint and drama” because she sees political trouble ahead of 2026.

“Her political survival depends on protecting a voter base built through fraudulent means,” Malviya posted.

He added a pointed jab, saying West Bengal in 2026 will “elect a Chief Minister for the state, not someone acting like a provincial leader of East Pakistan.”

Meanwhile, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh defended Banerjee’s intervention, arguing that she had done the right thing.

“The Chief Minister wrote this letter because people are dying. She has raised legitimate concerns. The EC is under BJP pressure, and they have allowed outsiders to cross the border,” Ghosh told reporters.

He added that responsibility for the situation in Hakimpur lies with the BSF: “Why was this allowed? They must answer.”