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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that there were numerous complaints against the SIR in Bihar, and asked why the documents accepted in Bihar are not being allowed in Bengal
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee once again took up her grievances against the SIR of electoral rolls in the state. (Image: PTI/File)
From Indian mythology to royal dynasties and then modern history, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee picked tyrant kings and dictators to describe the Election Commission of India.
Calling the Election Commission (EC) “torture commission”, Mamata Banerjee once again took up her grievances against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
“This is a so-called torture commission. They are behaving like Hitler,” Banerjee alleged, as she made her first reference to the German dictator, during a press conference.
She alleged that there were numerous complaints against the SIR in Bihar and Haryana, and asked why the documents accepted in Bihar are not being allowed in Bengal.
Banerjee then went on to make her Tughlaq reference and alleged that the EC is “working for the BJP”. She accused the poll body of overreach and harassment.
“Why are they targeting Bengal? Tughlaqi commission is working for the BJP,” she asked. “Whoever is threatening the officers, I would like to remind them that the ECI can’t do anything without the rules… I am not blaming everyone from the commission, but I don’t like this Mohammad Bin Tughlaq. They’re like a washing machine, washing away the democratic rights.”
By using the word ‘Tughlaqi’, she was alluding to the Delhi sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq who was known for whimsical decisions.
She claimed that in Bihar, domicile certificates issued by the state authorities were accepted but that practice is not being followed in Bengal.
“A culture of threats is prevalent. Why have you suspended the EROs? Even murderers are given an opportunity to defend themselves in court. You have suspended them without giving them any opportunity to present their case,” she alleged.
The chief minister accused the poll body of “destroying federal structure” and said it has “snatched women’s rights in the name of logical discrepancy”.
She then moved onto her final analogy, comparing the EC and the central government to “Ravana” and the SIR to the “Sita haran“.
“People who have committed suicide have named the EC,” she alleged. “This is like Ravana’s Sita haran, they are deleting names…”
Banerjee’s fierce contest with the EC over the SIR has continued. Her main contention: the poll body is interfering in state matters and threatening officials.
But, she said any attempt to “kill democracy” by anyone would be met with a “befitting reply”. “They are harassing common people. If steps are taken against the EROs against the complainants from the BJP, then why will there be no action against the ECI?” she asked.
Her so-called crusade against the SIR has become a major poll issue in Bengal, which is set to face assembly elections in the first half of this year.
WHAT IS THE SIR STATUS IN BENGAL?
In the latest development on Monday (February 16), the EC directed West Bengal authorities to ensure speedy disposal of claims and objections filed under Form 7 of the SIR exercise.
The EC reiterated that the revised SIR schedule had already been communicated to the state chief electoral officer’s office on February 10. Form 7 applications were issued to voters whose names did not figure in the draft rolls to file objections, including deletion of their own names due to change of address and deletion of names of others due to death or shifting.
“The commission has directed the chief electoral officer that all objections received till date in the offices of the CEO and District Election Officers (DEOs) must be forwarded to the respective Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) by February 16,” a letter stated.
The letter also directed the CEO’s office to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court’s February 9 order as well as the SIR instructions dated October 27, 2025. The court on February 9 told the EC that the time for objections could be extended by a week from February 14 and directed speedy disposal and resolution of the objections.
(With inputs from Kamalika Sengupta and agencies)
February 17, 2026, 18:03 IST
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