The political tussle over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal has escalated, with a Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation reaching the Election Commission in Delhi to lodge formal complaints. The TMC has alleged serious irregularities in the implementation of SIR, claiming that the process is flawed and could lead to the deletion of lakhs of genuine voters from the electoral rolls. According to TMC leaders, although the first phase of SIR has been completed and a draft voter list released—reportedly excluding around 58 lakh names—many voters are still being issued notices despite having submitted forms and appearing on the draft list. The party claims there are data mismatches and mapping errors in the verification process, raising fears of mass disenfranchisement. TMC representatives argue that if the process continues in its current form, thousands and possibly lakhs of eligible voters could lose their voting rights. The BJP, however, has strongly countered these allegations, accusing the TMC of opposing SIR to protect illegal infiltrators. The BJP has also launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that her statements against Union Home Minister Amit Shah amount to intimidation. With heated exchanges and political rhetoric intensifying, the SIR issue has now become a major national political flashpoint. The Election Commission is expected to review the concerns raised.
