West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee marked the third day of her sit-in protest in Kolkata on Sunday, March 8, 2026, challenging what she describes as arbitrary deletions in the post-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter list. Banerjee, the leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of exploiting the Vanish Commission to erase legitimate voters from the electoral rolls.
Her comments coincided with the arrival of a full bench from the Election Commission, which is in Kolkata to assess the state’s electoral preparedness ahead of the upcoming State Assembly elections. Banerjee argued that the current political climate represents an “unprecedented and direct assault” on the foundations of democracy in India. She asserted, “In their ‘One Nation, One Leader, One Party’ frenzy, the BJP has systematically weaponized every democratic institution and constitutional post to serve their own anti-people ambitions.”
Banerjee further contended that the BJP aims to replace the Constitution, originally framed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, with its party manifesto. “For years, they have unleashed Central agencies, National Commissions, and a compliant media against Bengal,” she claimed, highlighting the role of the Vanish Commission in what she calls the targeted removal of genuine voters from electoral rolls.
Labeling the BJP leadership as “zamindars of Delhi,” she stressed that their efforts to “subjugate” Bengal would ultimately fail. “Our dharna at Dharmatala is our answer to every anti-Bengal agenda that seeks to humiliate, intimidate, and persecute the people of this State,” she stated emphatically.
The backdrop of Banerjee’s protest is an escalating controversy surrounding the SIR process, which the TMC alleges has resulted in the extensive deletion of eligible voters. According to official data released on February 28, approximately 63.66 lakh names-around 8.3% of the electorate-have been removed since the SIR began in November 2025, shrinking the voter base from approximately 7.66 crore to just over 7.04 crore. Additionally, more than 60.06 lakh electors now find themselves classified as “under adjudication,” indicating their eligibility will undergo legal scrutiny in the coming weeks. This situation has the potential to significantly shift electoral dynamics at the constituency level.
Banerjee contrasted the BJP’s focus on power with her own prioritization of the people. Drawing upon historical parallels, she asserted that just as Bengal rose to shake off colonial rule, it would likewise rise to facilitate the BJP’s eventual downfall. “My priority is and has always been people,” she reiterated passionately.
As the protest continues, it remains to be seen how the Election Commission’s findings might impact the political landscape in West Bengal, and whether the TMC’s claims about the voter list will gain traction among the electorate.
This ongoing conflict is unfolding against the backdrop of a charged political atmosphere in West Bengal, with implications that could reverberate through the upcoming elections.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/bjp-misusing-vanish-commission-to-erase-legitimate-voters-from-electoral-rolls-alleges-mamata/article70718609.ece
Category : West Bengal
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Publish Date: 2026-03-08 15:52:00
