New Delhi : Mamata Banerjee told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal was deliberately designed to target her state ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. The Trinamool Congress supremo, who arrived in the national capital three days ago to escalate her standoff with the Election Commission of India, argued her case before a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi.
Further in her arguments, Banerjee said the first phase of the SIR had resulted in nearly 58 lakh names being deleted, many without allowing voters to appeal under Form 6. She claimed that these deletions were primarily carried out by micro-observers, reportedly from BJP-ruled states, while local electoral staff were sidelined, and alleged that valid documents such as domicile certificates and other government-issued proofs were being rejected. Minor changes, such as a woman adopting her husband’s surname after marriage or moving to her in-laws’ house, were being marked as mismatches.
Criticising the timing of the exercise, she said, “After 24 years, what was the hurry to complete in four months. What could have been done in two years? Notices were issued during harvest and Puja seasons when people were away from their homes.” Banerjee also expressed frustration over the Election Commission’s lack of response. “Lawyers always fight for the case when everything is finished. Justice is crying behind the doors. I have written six letters to the ECI, but there has been no reply,” she said.
As she wrapped up her arguments, Banerjee again sharply criticised the Election Commission, calling it the “WhatsApp Commission. The Election Commission sorry, the WhatsApp Commission is doing all this. People’s names are being deleted. Bengal is being targeted,” she added.
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