Digital Team
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee intensifies her attack on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive, warning of protests as the Election Commission flags lakhs of duplicate, shifted and unverifiable voters.
The Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has uncovered unusually high discrepancies in West Bengal’s voter lists. Following a review meeting with CEOs of 12 states, Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal was instructed to “reverify all suspicious entries” before publishing the December 16 draft rolls.
According to sources, the SIR has so far scrutinised 57 lakh entries, revealing:
24,14,750 deceased voters
11,57,889 untraceable voters
19,89,914 “shifted” voters
1,35,627 identified as bogus
54,027 in other categories
Officials say the figures indicate years of structural irregularities in the state’s electoral database.
Mamata Banerjee Accuses EC of Targeted Action, Warns of Street Protests
Reacting strongly, Mamata Banerjee alleged that the SIR exercise was being deployed to “distort Bengal’s demography” and “silence minority voices.”
At a rally in Nadia, she claimed:
“If even one genuine voter’s name is removed, we will protest. Women should keep their kitchen utensils ready.”
She also launched a personal attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, calling him “dangerous,” and alleging political interference in the revision exercise.
The BJP dismissed her remarks as “fear-mongering,” stating that the SIR merely exposes “TMC’s long-running ghost voter model.”
EC Orders Physical Verification of Suspicious Voters
In a significant move, the Election Commission has ordered physical verification for all voters flagged as “suspicious.” This includes:
- Voters whose parents’ age gap exceeds 15 years
- Those whose documents don’t match the 2002–03 rolls
- Entries with mismatched photos or incomplete data
Officials estimate that West Bengal may have over 1 crore unverifiable or irregular registrations, a number that has triggered political alarm within the TMC.
A senior EC official noted:
“The scale of mismatch suggests a sustained effort to link invalid voters to old electoral rolls.”
Why EC’s Numbers Have Surprised Observers
The EC originally estimated 1.5 crore voters would require verification.
However, once 98% of 76.6 million enumeration forms were digitised, only 30 lakh cases were found suspicious.
This steep mismatch raised critical questions:
- Was the earlier system used to inflate voter numbers?
- Were invalid entries systematically added over the years?
- Did border districts see organised registration of non-citizens?
Election officials hint at “concentrated attempts” to link multiple individuals to outdated voter lists.
BJP Claims ‘Ghost Voters’ Propelled TMC’s Electoral Strength
BJP leaders argue that the SIR findings confirm their long-standing allegations of “ghost voters” aiding TMC’s electoral victories.
Amit Malviya wrote on X:
“SIR has pulled the curtain back on TMC’s factory of fake voters.”
While the EC has avoided political commentary, it has acknowledged “wide-scale anomalies requiring systematic correction.”
On the Ground: Tensions Rise as BLOs Begin Door-to-Door Checks
Block Level Officers across West Bengal are now undertaking:
- House-to-house voter verification
- Photograph collection
- QR-coded documentation
- Cross-checks with 2002–03 electoral rolls
IAS officers appointed by the EC are supervising the process.
Reports indicate rising tensions, with attempts at obstruction in certain districts.
A Union minister alleged that women—“mobilised by local political leaders”—blocked an EC officer’s entry.
TMC denied deliberate mobilisation, calling the claims “fabricated.”
Officials warn that the verification exercise may need central forces to ensure safety and transparency.
Mamata Submits Her Own Verification Papers—But Doubles Down on Attacks
Despite her public refusal, Mamata Banerjee reportedly submitted her voter verification documents after a few hours of controversy.
The move has been interpreted as a pragmatic acceptance of the EC’s legal authority, even as she continues to challenge the SIR politically.
A Kolkata-based election analyst noted:
“Her rhetoric is geared toward mobilising anxiety, but compliance shows the limitations of political pushback.”
What the Controversy Means for 2026 West Bengal Elections
The SIR exercise is expected to significantly reshape West Bengal’s voter rolls before the 2026 Assembly polls.
Probable impacts:
- Reduction in inflated or duplicated voter bases
- Rebalancing of demographic patterns across districts
- Potential shrinkage of TMC’s traditional minority vote pockets
- Greater scrutiny on cross-border voter infiltration
- Stronger push for central paramilitary deployment during elections
Political observers say the controversy will likely dominate Bengal’s political narrative through 2025.
As the Mamata Banerjee Special Intensive Revision SIR controversy intensifies, West Bengal finds itself at a crossroads. The Election Commission’s sweeping audit has exposed deep structural flaws in the state’s voter rolls, triggering fierce political pushback. Whether this cleanup strengthens democratic integrity or deepens partisan conflict will determine the tone of Bengal’s run-up to the 2026 elections.
FAQ Section (SEO-Optimised)
Q1. What is the Mamata Banerjee Special Intensive Revision SIR controversy?
A: It refers to Mamata Banerjee’s allegations that the EC’s SIR drive is being used to delete genuine voters in West Bengal.
Q2. Why is the SIR process important?
A: It aims to remove duplicate, deceased and unverifiable entries to ensure electoral accuracy ahead of upcoming polls.
Q3. How many suspicious voters has the EC identified?
A: Over 30 lakh so far, with more than 1 crore under scrutiny for possible verification.
Q4. Did Mamata Banerjee comply with the SIR process?
A: Yes, she eventually submitted her verification documents despite initial opposition.
Q5. Could the SIR impact the 2026 Bengal elections?
A: Yes, large-scale deletions and demographic changes could significantly affect seat projections and campaign strategies.
