Mamata Banerjee Criticizes Election Commission's Voter List Revision in Bihar

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has voiced strong objections to the Election Commission's recent directive for a Special Intensive Revision of the voter list in Bihar. She argues that the initiative could disenfranchise the youth and lacks transparency. Banerjee has called for unity among political parties to address the alarming implications of this revision, which she believes is influenced by the ruling BJP in Bihar. Her comments highlight concerns over the potential impact on democracy and the integrity of the electoral process. Read on to discover more about her statements and the political ramifications.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 26, 2025, 18:21 IST

Election Commission's Directive for Bihar

The Election Commission has issued instructions for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, aiming to ensure that all eligible citizens are included in the voter list. This initiative is intended to facilitate the exercise of voting rights while preventing ineligible voters from being added to the list. The process is designed to maintain transparency in adding or removing names from the voter registry.

Mamata Banerjee's Concerns

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has raised objections regarding this directive, stating that she has received two letters from the Election Commission concerning Bihar. She expressed her discontent with one of the announcements, labeling it as potentially harmful and more dangerous than the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Banerjee emphasized that there are significant irregularities in the process, which the Election Commission has termed as a special intensive revision. She pointed out that Bihar is governed by the BJP, suggesting that there would be no opposition to this initiative. According to her, the BJP is targeting Bengal and is fearful of the implications of this revision.

Call for Unity Among Political Parties

The Chief Minister urged all political parties to take note of the situation, criticizing the BJP's campaign tactics. She mentioned that the Election Commission has requested data on booth-level agents through official correspondence. Banerjee declared her commitment to fighting for democracy and called upon all parties to consider the implications of the Election Commission's plans, which she described as alarming.

She questioned the intentions behind the revision, asking if it resembled the NRC and whether the youth would be disenfranchised. Banerjee warned against pressuring ordinary citizens and asserted that the process of including voters from outside Bengal would not be straightforward.