West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India and the central government over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, warning that the exercise could be a veiled attempt to disenfranchise voters, especially from marginalised communities.
Speaking at an event marking World Adivasi Day in Jhargram, Banerjee alleged that the central government was attempting to manipulate the voter list under the guise of bureaucratic formalities. She also pledged to resist what she described as a conspiracy against Bengali identity, indicating that the twin issues of voter disenfranchisement and linguistic pride would shape her campaign in the 2026 state assembly elections.
“If someone tells you to fill out a form promising benefits, don’t do it without understanding. Your details could be used to remove your name from the voter list. Then they will send you an NRC notice,” Banerjee warned, referring to the controversial National Register of Citizens. The Chief Minister alleged that the new voter list norms require individuals born before or in 2002 to produce their parents’ birth certificates. “Only 60% had birth certificates back then. How can those born after 2004 be expected to provide their parents’ certificates?” she questioned, calling the demand discriminatory and impractical.
Banerjee further alleged that the Election Commission had changed rules arbitrarily, saying, “Just possessing an EPIC card isn’t enough anymore. You need to cross-check your name in the new voter list.” She accused the Centre of targeting state government officials for resisting these changes. “Two of my officers were suspended and sent notices yesterday. On what basis? The elections haven’t even been announced yet. I won’t let anyone be punished unjustly,” she said.
Earlier this week, the Election Commission had recommended FIRs against two Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) in West Bengal for alleged lapses in the voter list revision process. The Commission also wrote to West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant urging disciplinary action. Banerjee also turned her fire on BJP leaders for comments allegedly questioning the legitimacy of the Bengali language. “If Bengali is not a language, then in what language was the national anthem written? What language did Tagore, Swamiji, Raja Rammohan Roy, and Vidyasagar speak?” she asked, adding, “Language is identity. Language is pride.”
In a pointed criticism of the BJP, Banerjee said, “These people were born with silver spoons in their mouths. They don’t understand the struggles of the working class.”
Banerjee’s remarks mark a sharp escalation in political rhetoric ahead of the 2026 state elections, with the Trinamool Congress positioning itself as the defender of both voter rights and Bengali cultural identity.
