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West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said she would move court against the SIR process over “inhumane treatment” and deaths of people in the state.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (Photo: PTI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday he would move court against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, citing the ‘inhumane treatment’ of people during the process.
Addressing a public meeting in South 24 Parganas, Banerjee alleged that the SIR exercise had triggered fear, harassment and administrative arbitrariness in West Bengal. “We are moving court tomorrow against the inhumane treatment and the death of so many people due to the SIR,” she said.
“If allowed, I will also move the Supreme Court and plead as a common person against this inhumane exercise. I am also a trained lawyer,” she added. The Chief Minister further alleged that terminally ill people and elderly citizens were being forced to stand in long queues to prove they were legitimate voters.
The Election Commission began the process of SIR in West Bengal on December 16, 2025. At least 58 lakh voter names were deleted from the updated draft electoral roll, which will be on February 14. Most of these deletions relate to cases where verification forms were not returned, or where voters were reported to be deceased, shifted to another location, absent, or duplicated in the electoral rolls.
“How would BJP leaders feel if someone made their old parents stand in line to prove their identity?” she asked, adding that at least 81 people had died in two months due to the increased workload over the SIR.
BJP Reacts To Mamata’s Charge
Responding to Mamata Banerjee’s threat, BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari asserted that SIR was protecting every citizen of the country and as per the constitutional powers of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
“When the Bihar (cash-for-query) case came before the Supreme Court, their (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra became a party to the case in the Supreme Court. They are a party, but the case is pending. Their prayer was for an interim order to impose a stay, which has not yet been granted by the Supreme Court,” he said.
“The Supreme Court said it would protect every citizen of the country and uphold the constitutional powers of the Election Commission,” he added. “SIR is going on in Bengal. If there is any issue now, they should go; otherwise, after February 14, if the name of any genuine Indian voter is deleted, they can approach the court with documents.”
VIDEO | Kolkata: Reacting to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s “I will move to the Supreme Court” remark on SIR, LoP Suvendu Adhikari says, “When the Bihar case came before the Supreme Court, their (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra became a party to the case in the Supreme Court. They are a… pic.twitter.com/2p6PMqzWtu— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 5, 2026
Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee also lashed out at the BJP over alleged discrimination against Bengali-speaking migrant workers in several states, claiming that speaking in Bengali had become a crime. “You disrespect the Bengali language. You insult our identity. India built the atomic bomb, and a son of Bengal was among those associated with it. The future belongs to Bengal. Who are you? Hungry opportunists,” she said.
She also remarked that the BJP did not believe in any religion, and it only believed in spreading lies. She alleged that the BJP induces people with pre-election sops and indulges in repression after winning the polls.
(with inputs from PTI)
January 05, 2026, 18:44 IST
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