West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee submitted her SIR (State Electoral Roll) enumeration form on December 11, 2025, marking a significant moment in the ongoing electoral process. This submission came on the final day for collecting filled forms, but it was not without controversy. Just hours before her submission, at a rally in Krishnanagar, Banerjee asserted that she would not participate in the SIR process, claiming she would wait until every citizen in the state completed their forms.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seized on this inconsistency, with party IT cell chief Amit Malviya accusing Banerjee of misleading voters. Malviya took to social media to highlight the contradiction, stating, “Mamata Banerjee has once again shown her instinct to mislead. She submitted her duly filled and signed Enumeration Form on the very last day, yet just hours earlier claimed she would not submit it at all.” He further noted that following months of misinformation, the Chief Minister finally completed her own enumeration form in order to remain a valid voter in West Bengal.
Since the SIR process began on November 4, Banerjee had publicly maintained that she would not fill out her form until every citizen in West Bengal had done so. Despite reports of a booth-level officer visiting her official residence to deliver the form, she denied any such interaction, calling it “entirely false and misleading.” On November 6, she reiterated her stance, reinforcing her commitment to waiting for all residents before submitting her own form.
Officials at the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office confirmed that as a sitting Chief Minister, Banerjee is already registered as a “marked elector,” a category that includes the Prime Minister and other constitutional officeholders. However, BJP West Bengal President Samik Bhattacharya expressed disappointment, stating that the SIR is a crucial constitutional process related to national interest and security. He criticized Banerjee for her contradictory behavior, recalling instances during the COVID-19 pandemic when she criticized vaccines yet was among the first to take one.
As the SIR process progresses, approximately 58 lakh enumeration forms remain uncollectable due to reasons such as absenteeism, relocation, duplication, and deceased voters. Among these, around 24.2 lakh electors have been identified as deceased. The draft electoral roll for the state, which is gearing up for Assembly elections next year, is expected to be released on December 16, 2025.
This unfolding situation not only highlights the complexities of the electoral process in West Bengal but also the political maneuvering surrounding it. With Banerjee’s latest actions capturing public attention, the implications for the upcoming elections are becoming increasingly significant.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/bjp-targets-mamata-over-contradictory-claims-of-filing-sir-enumeration-form/article70389520.ece
Category : Kolkata
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Publish Date: 2025-12-13 04:00:00
