Mamata Banerjee Urges Halt to Voter List Revision in West Bengal

Chief Minister's Urgent Appeal

Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, has sent a stern letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding an immediate suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in the state. She cited widespread irregularities, procedural flaws, and administrative chaos, warning that these issues could disenfranchise millions and undermine the democratic foundation of India. In her letter dated December 3, she highlighted the escalating tension between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and the Election Commission ahead of crucial elections.

Banerjee's correspondence left no stone unturned, describing the SIR process as "unplanned, inadequately prepared, and ad hoc," filled with "serious irregularities, procedural violations, and administrative errors." She accused the authorities of hastily completing the process without proper preparation, resulting in faulty IT systems, contradictory guidelines, and inadequately trained personnel.

Concerns Over Democratic Integrity

She emphasized that the SIR process contains significant flaws that threaten the core structure of democracy and the spirit of the Constitution. Banerjee labeled it a direct assault on electoral fairness, stressing the critical nature of the timing, as the revision aims to update voter lists. However, it risks excluding legitimate voters in a politically sensitive state.

Banerjee warned that allowing the SIR to proceed unchecked could lead to irreversible damage, with widespread disenfranchisement of eligible voters and a direct attack on the fundamental principles of democratic governance.

Transparency and Fairness Under Scrutiny

Banerjee focused on specific shortcomings, including the denial of permission for booth-level agents (BLAs) during hearings, which she claims undermines "fairness, transparency, and credibility." She asserted that officials lack adequate training, leading to increased errors in this crucial verification process. Furthermore, she held the Election Commission fully accountable for any "illegal, arbitrary, or biased actions" that occurred under its supervision, demanding immediate rectification of IT flaws and inconsistent directives.