Kolkata/Sagar Island:
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced that she would move the court on Tuesday against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, alleging that the exercise has led to widespread fear, harassment, and administrative arbitrariness. Addressing a public meeting at Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district, Banerjee claimed that the revision process had already resulted in deaths and hospitalisations, turning what should have been a routine administrative exercise into a source of distress for ordinary citizens ahead of the Assembly elections.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo accused the authorities of arbitrarily striking off names from the voter rolls without valid justification, thereby disenfranchising genuine voters. She alleged that the manner in which the SIR was being conducted had caused panic, particularly among elderly people, the poor, and those suffering from serious illnesses.

“We are moving court tomorrow against the inhumane treatment and the death of so many people due to the SIR,” Banerjee said, addressing a large gathering. She asserted that the state could not remain a silent spectator while people were allegedly being subjected to harassment in the name of electoral verification.

The chief minister went a step further, stating that she was prepared to approach the Supreme Court if required. “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 said, underlining her determination to legally challenge the process. However, Banerjee did not specify whether the petition would be filed by her in her personal capacity, by the state government, or by the Trinamool Congress as a political party.

Banerjee’s remarks come amid mounting political tensions in West Bengal, where the SIR of electoral rolls has become a contentious issue between the ruling TMC and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Election Commission has maintained that such revisions are aimed at ensuring clean and accurate voter lists, but the chief minister alleged that the process was being misused to intimidate voters and selectively target certain sections of the population.

In her address, Banerjee claimed that terminally ill patients and elderly citizens were being compelled to stand in long queues for hours to prove their identity and eligibility as voters. She described the situation as cruel and insensitive, particularly given the physical limitations of such individuals.

“How would BJP leaders feel if someone made their old parents stand in line to prove their identity?” she asked, drawing an emotional response from the crowd. According to her, the insistence on physical verification without adequate safeguards had caused immense mental stress among vulnerable citizens.

The chief minister further alleged that fear generated by the SIR had led to tragic consequences. “Since the SIR began, so many people have died due to fear, and several others are in hospital,” she claimed, though she did not provide specific figures or details during her speech. She maintained that these incidents reflected the human cost of what she described as an arbitrary and insensitive administrative exercise.

Banerjee also accused the Election Commission and the central government of undermining democratic rights by creating obstacles for voters instead of facilitating participation. She said that deleting names from the voter list without proper notice or explanation amounted to a serious violation of constitutional rights.

Expanding her attack beyond the SIR, the chief minister took on the BJP over what she described as systematic discrimination against Bengali-speaking migrant workers in BJP-ruled states. She alleged that Bengalis were being targeted and harassed simply for speaking their mother tongue, raising concerns about linguistic and cultural intolerance.

“I dare them to kill me, but I will not stop speaking in my mother tongue,” Banerjee said, striking a defiant tone. “Has speaking Bengali become a crime in this country?” she asked, drawing applause from supporters. Her remarks appeared aimed at reinforcing her long-standing narrative of protecting Bengali identity and culture against what she portrays as centralising and homogenising tendencies.

The West Bengal chief minister also accused the BJP of adopting a cynical political strategy that combines pre-election inducements with post-election repression. “They will give ₹10,000 before elections and use the bulldozer once it’s over,” she said, in a sharp reference to what she alleged were populist promises followed by coercive governance in states ruled by the BJP.

According to Banerjee, such tactics might intimidate people temporarily but would not succeed in the long run. “You can torture as much as you want, but it won’t yield any results,” she said, asserting that the people of West Bengal would resist what she described as authoritarian methods.

Her speech at Sagar Island is seen as part of a broader political mobilisation by the TMC ahead of the Assembly elections, with the party seeking to frame the SIR issue as an attack on democratic rights and the dignity of ordinary citizens. By promising legal action, Banerjee signalled that her government and party would challenge the process not only politically but also through judicial means.

The controversy over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has emerged as a flashpoint in the state’s charged political atmosphere. While the Election Commission has defended the exercise as a necessary step to remove duplication and ensure accuracy, the TMC has repeatedly alleged that it is being carried out selectively and without adequate transparency.

Banerjee’s announcement of a court move is likely to escalate the standoff, potentially drawing judicial scrutiny into the conduct and scope of the SIR in West Bengal. With elections approaching, the issue is expected to remain at the centre of political debate, as both sides seek to shape public perception around voter rights, administrative fairness, and the integrity of the electoral process.

As the chief minister prepares to take the legal route, all eyes will be on how the courts respond to her challenge and whether the controversy will lead to any changes in the ongoing electoral roll revision exercise. For now, Banerjee has made it clear that she intends to confront the issue head-on, portraying herself as a defender of the people against what she calls an inhumane and arbitrary process.