Mamata Banerjee Launches Protest Against Voter Disenfranchisement in West Bengal
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a protest against the alleged disenfranchisement of voters due to the State Information Report (SIR). She aims to expose the supposed conspiracy by the BJP and the Election Commission to manipulate voter lists ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Abhishek Banerjee, TMC's National General Secretary, has also voiced concerns about the political motivations behind the removal of millions of names from the voter rolls. Official data indicates that over 6 million voters have been affected, raising alarms about the impact on minority and economically disadvantaged groups. This protest marks a significant escalation in the political landscape of West Bengal.
Mar 6, 2026, 16:53 IST
Mamata Banerjee's Protest Against Voter Disenfranchisement
On Friday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee initiated a protest against the State Information Report (SIR), asserting her commitment to expose what she termed as a conspiracy by the BJP and the Election Commission to disenfranchise voters in Bengal. She emphasized her intention to present deceased voters in Kolkata, highlighting the alleged arbitrary removal of names from voter lists ahead of the state assembly elections. This demonstration comes in response to the SIR's impact on the electoral process.
Abhishek Banerjee Announces Protest Details
Abhishek Banerjee's Call for Protest
This protest is strategically timed just two days before the Election Commission's full bench visits the state. TMC's National General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, announced that the sit-in would commence at 2 PM at the Esplanade Metro Channel in central Kolkata. He accused the Election Commission of politically motivated actions that have disenfranchised millions of legitimate voters just months before the assembly elections. This protest signals a significant escalation in political tensions, occurring shortly after the Election Commission released the voter list following the SIR.
Impact of SIR on Voter Lists
Significant Changes in Voter Lists Post-SIR
According to official data released on February 28, since the SIR process began last November, approximately 8.3% of voters, equating to 6.366 million names, have been removed from the voter rolls. This reduction has decreased the voter base from around 76.6 million to just over 70.4 million. Additionally, over 6 million voters have been categorized as 'under review,' meaning their eligibility will be determined through legal scrutiny in the coming weeks. TMC leaders have claimed that minority voters, migrant workers, and economically disadvantaged groups have been disproportionately affected by this process.