Mamata Banerjee’s “SIR Vanish” Remark Sparks Political Row
During a sit-in protest in Kolkata, Banerjee took a sharp dig at the Centre and the poll body
Mamata Banerjee has intensified her criticism of the Central government and the Election Commission of India over the alleged deletion of voter names from electoral rolls in West Bengal. The controversy erupted during her ongoing protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists ahead of upcoming elections.
During a sit-in protest in Kolkata, Banerjee took a sharp dig at the Centre and the poll body, calling the exercise “SIR Vanish.” She accused authorities of removing genuine voters from the electoral rolls and alleged that the move was politically motivated.
The Chief Minister claimed that the country is witnessing an “assault on democratic foundations,” alleging that democratic institutions are being used to target political opponents. She further accused the ruling party at the Centre of trying to influence the electoral process by manipulating voter lists.
The dispute centers on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, under which voter rolls are being updated and verified. According to official data, over 63 lakh names—around 8.3% of the electorate—have been deleted, while millions more are under review to determine their eligibility.
Banerjee has been holding a multi-day dharna (sit-in protest), joined by supporters and citizens who claim their names were wrongly removed from the voter list. Some individuals even appeared at the protest site to show documents proving their identity and eligibility as voters.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has maintained that the revision process is part of routine electoral preparations to ensure the accuracy of voter rolls. The issue has now become a major political flashpoint in West Bengal as parties prepare for upcoming elections.
The controversy highlights the growing political tensions in the state, with debates continuing over electoral transparency, democratic rights, and the integrity of the voter registration process.
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