SIR Storm Hits Bengal: Mamata Banerjee’s Alleged “Voter Bank” Model Under Direct Attack

After shaking up Bihar’s political landscape, the Election Commission of India’s SIR (Systematic Investigation and Revision) process is now turning its attention to West Bengal—and this time, the political battle has reached a fever pitch.

🗳️ From Bihar to Bengal: What Is SIR and Why It Matters

Initially perceived as just another bureaucratic exercise, the SIR process in Bihar stunned observers when it began unearthing massive voter irregularities. As thousands of fake, dead, and duplicate names were struck off the electoral rolls—over 65 lakh deletions according to sources—the political temperature soared. Now, as this same process heads to West Bengal, panic is visibly setting in among opposition parties, particularly the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Mamata Banerjee.

🧨 Bengal in Focus: Allegations of 1 Crore Fake Voters

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari dropped a political bombshell, claiming that West Bengal has over 1 crore fake voters, primarily comprising Rohingyas and illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. He alleged that these voters are being used as a deliberate tool to maintain TMC’s vote share through identity manipulation and appeasement politics.

🧷 Centre Steps In: Amit Shah Takes Command

Unlike in Bihar, where the SIR was overseen quietly, the Home Ministry has now become directly involved in Bengal’s case. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reportedly held internal meetings to oversee preparations. The Election Commission has already issued formal instructions to the West Bengal State Election Commission to commence groundwork, with the full-scale SIR rollout expected in September 2025.

😠 Mamata Banerjee’s Aggressive Pushback

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has openly opposed the SIR process, calling it a veiled attempt to implement NRC (National Register of Citizens) in Bengal. In fiery speeches, she warned of massive unrest and even invoked violent imagery, allegedly saying, “rivers of blood will flow.” Her government has instructed BLOs (Booth Level Officers) to not delete any names from the voter list without prior checks, sparking a showdown with the Election Commission.

She has also directed District Magistrates (DMs) and government staff—who double as election officers—to resist what she called “coercion by the Centre.”

🛡️ Security Arrangements: BLOs to Be Escorted by CRPF

Amid fears that BLOs may face violence, intimidation, or even abduction, the Centre is reportedly planning to deploy paramilitary forces like CRPF to accompany officials during voter list verification.

In Bihar, the process proceeded relatively peacefully. But in Bengal, the charged atmosphere, coupled with past instances of violence against CBI, ED, and NHRC officials, has compelled authorities to plan tight security measures.

🧾 Election Commission’s Warning

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday directed West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manoj Agarwal, to immediately begin preparations for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, which heads to polls next year.

The Election Commission has made it clear:

Only government-appointed BLOs will conduct verifications.

Any tampering or bias by a BLO will result in strict action—FIRs, suspensions, or criminal cases.

Political interference in the SIR process will not be tolerated.

🧨 TMC’s Internal Dilemma and Opposition Confusion

While Abhishek Banerjee is expected to attend a planned opposition meeting, Mamata Banerjee has distanced herself from Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, highlighting a split within the INDIA bloc. The meeting will likely include discussions on opposing the SIR process, which opposition parties are now branding as politically motivated.

But critics ask: If the voter list is genuine, why fear verification?

💬 Why SIR Matters in Bengal

West Bengal has 7.6 crore voters, slightly fewer than Bihar’s 7.9 crore. If 65 lakh names were removed in Bihar, and BJP claims over 1 crore fake voters in Bengal, the implications could be electorally devastating for TMC.

According to BJP leaders:

“This isn’t about politics. It’s about cleansing the electoral system. Once the fake names are gone, the BJP doesn’t need to do anything else—we’ll win cleanly.”

🔍 Allegations and Ground Reality

Reports of fake voter identities—ranging from illegal immigrants, deceased voters, to forged IDs—have continued to surface in Bengal. Recent media stories highlighted even celebrities being falsely enrolled. The BJP insists that these cases are just the tip of the iceberg, accusing Mamata Banerjee’s government of nurturing a “vote bank industry.”

⚖️ Not Just About NRC: Is Mamata Banerjee Using Fear Tactics?

While Mamata claims that SIR is backdoor NRC, the Centre and the Election Commission have repeatedly denied any link between the two. But the TMC’s aggressive resistance is seen by critics as an attempt to shield its support base, which allegedly includes illegal migrants.

In Ilambazar and other areas, Mamata has openly urged people to “resist” if their names are deleted, adding fuel to the fire. Critics argue that her veiled calls for protest may lead to law-and-order breakdowns during the SIR process.

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