Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar stated that there would be no hindrance in implementing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters’ list in West Bengal, despite opposition and alleged threats from the Trinamool Congress. His remarks came after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and several TMC leaders warned that the exercise could lead to unrest if carried out in the state. Kumar asserted that the Election Commission would continue with the revision as planned and that all states were constitutionally bound to cooperate with the poll body.
Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Gyanesh Kumar explained that the SIR would be conducted across 12 states and Union Territories, including West Bengal, which is scheduled for Assembly elections next year. He emphasized that every state was legally obligated to provide staff and logistical support for the preparation and verification of electoral rolls. Responding to concerns about the TMC’s warning of a “bloodbath,” Kumar maintained that there was “no hurdle” to the process and invoked Article 324 of the Constitution, affirming that the Election Commission was performing its duties in accordance with constitutional provisions.
Kumar further clarified that maintaining law and order during the SIR was the responsibility of the state government, which was also required to provide the necessary personnel to assist the Commission. His comments followed a series of statements by Mamata Banerjee, who had accused the BJP-led central government and the Election Commission of overstepping their authority. She accused poll officials of intimidating state officers and warned them “not to play with fire.” Referring to Bengal’s history of defiance, Banerjee said that the state had long resisted external control, recalling that even the British had moved their capital from Calcutta to Delhi due to Bengal’s nationalist movements.
The BJP defended the SIR, describing it as a legitimate measure to remove illegal migrants from voter rolls. The party accused the Trinamool Congress of opposing the drive to protect its political interests. Meanwhile, the West Bengal BJP lodged a complaint with the Election Commission after the state government transferred 235 officers following the SIR announcement, calling the move irregular and demanding that the transfers be revoked immediately.
The second phase of the Special Intensive Revision will begin on November 4 and continue until December 4 across 12 regions, including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Among these, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and West Bengal are set to hold elections in 2026. The draft electoral rolls will be published on December 9, and the final list will be released on February 7.
In the first phase conducted in Bihar, the total number of electors decreased from 7.89 crore to 7.42 crore following the removal of approximately 65 lakh names for reasons such as death, migration, and duplication. After verification, 21.53 lakh new voters were added and 3.66 lakh were removed, resulting in a net reduction of about 47 lakh voters. The Trinamool Congress and other opposition parties have cited the Bihar experience as evidence that the SIR is a covert attempt to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and delete legitimate voters, particularly from minority and marginalized groups.
The Election Commission has maintained that the Special Intensive Revision is a routine, constitutionally mandated process aimed at ensuring the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls. It has insisted that all states are expected to facilitate the exercise without obstruction to preserve the fairness of the upcoming elections.
