A Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to meet the Election Commission of India (ECI) on February 2 amid mounting political opposition to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ECI said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has agreed to meet the delegation at 4 pm at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi. The meeting follows sustained criticism by the ruling TMC, which has accused the Commission of conducting the SIR in a partisan manner to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Banerjee’s remarks came hours after party sources confirmed that the appointment had been secured. The Chief Minister has indicated that the issue would be raised at the highest level, even as the state heads into the final legislative session before the Assembly elections.
Addressing a public meeting in Singur on Wednesday, Banerjee said she had initially planned to travel to Delhi on Thursday but was forced to cancel the trip due to ‘unfortunate turn of events,’ in an apparent reference to the untimely demise of NCP chief and Maharastra’s Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and the deadly warehouse fire in Anandapur on the eastern outskirts of Kolkata.
“I was supposed to travel to Delhi from this meeting. But because there's been an unfortunate turn of events, I had to cancel my trip,” she said.
However, she asserted that the postponement would not deter her from pursuing the matter.
“But, if not today, I will surely go to Delhi tomorrow, or the day after. That's because you cannot expect to snatch people's rights and expect me to sit quietly. If required, I will stand in court. If permitted, I too will plead for the people, not as a lawyer but as a citizen. I have preserved all documents and evidence required for this case,” Banerjee added.
The Chief Minister also sought to reassure citizens amid concerns over voter hearings under the SIR process.
“Will not allow them to send anyone to detention camps, we will not allow NRC to be implemented here. Let them call you to hearings, it's only their show of arrogance, of their pride. I will shatter their pride, have faith in me,” she said.
Banerjee noted that her presence in Singur—considered politically symbolic for the TMC—held added significance ahead of her proposed visit to the national capital.
Earlier, on National Voters’ Day on January 25, Banerjee had sharply criticised the Election Commission in a post on X, accusing it of undermining democratic rights.
“Election Commission of India is celebrating National Voters’ Day today, and what a tragic farce that is! The Commission — working as His Master’s Voice – is busy now in snatching away people’s voting rights, and they have the temerity to celebrate Voters’ Day! I am deeply distressed and disturbed by their conduct today,” she wrote on X.
She has repeatedly alleged that elderly voters and persons with disabilities are being summoned for hearings, calling the process coercive.
“The stress caused by this kind of illegal pressure is leading to a series of suicides and deaths, and yet you are continuing to do this at the behest of your political masters. You have made it NRC trial for citizens, including particularly those belonging to minorities, scheduled castes and tribes,” Banerjee said.
The SIR exercise has flagged nearly 1.5 crore electors in West Bengal due to what the EC describes as logical discrepancies in voter data or non-linkage with the last intensive revision conducted in 2002.
Following a petition by the TMC, the Supreme Court earlier this month directed the Election Commission to publish the list of discrepancies identified by its software.
Banerjee has also written to the Chief Election Commissioner outlining her concerns over the revision process, which began with voter enumeration in November.
