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Mamata Banerjee Escalates SIR Dispute in Fresh Letter as ECI Adds Special Roll Observers

She argues the electoral roll revision is being misused to exclude eligible voters.

Overview

  • In a new letter dated January 10, the West Bengal chief minister alleges the Special Intensive Revision focuses on deletions rather than corrections or inclusions, citing mass summons over so‑called logical discrepancies.
  • She claims backend changes are removing voters without Electoral Registration Officers’ approval and points to inconsistent portals and shifting instructions that, she says, confuse officials.
  • Banerjee attributes 77 deaths, four suicide attempts and 17 hospitalisations to fear, intimidation and workload from the exercise, while accusing some observers of verbal abuse and branding citizens “desh drohi.”
  • She highlights notices to eminent figures including Amartya Sen, Joy Goswami, MP Deepak Adhikari and cricketer Mohammed Shami, noting the Commission later exempted overseas electors from SIR hearings.
  • The Election Commission appointed four additional special roll observers for West Bengal, as a TMC delegation pressed the state CEO for relief for ill, elderly and migrant workers who are still being called to hearings.