Mamata Banerjee Alleges ‘Conspiracy’ to Delete 1.2 Crore Voters; Slams EC Over SIR Exercise
เคฎเคฎเคคा เคฌเคจเคฐ्เคी เคो เคฌंเคाเคฒ เคฎें เคฎเคคเคฆाเคคा เคธूเคी เคธे 1.20 เคเคฐोเคก़ เคจाเคฎ เคเคเคจे เคी เคเคถंเคा (เคซोเคो- เคชीเคीเคเค)
KOLKATA | Thursday, February 26, 2026
In a major political showdown ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has levelled explosive allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI). Speaking at a public event in her Bhabanipur constituency on Wednesday, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo expressed grave apprehension that nearly 1.2 crore names could be wiped off the state's voter list.
The Math of Deletion: Breaking Down the Claims
Banerjee alleged that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is being used as a tool to disenfranchise genuine citizens. According to her:
58 Lakh Names: Already deleted in the first phase of the draft roll publication.
Logical Discrepancies: She claimed that under the guise of "logical discrepancies"—a rule she says was added as an afterthought—another 80 lakh names are being targeted.
Net Impact: Even after accounting for approximately 20 lakh deceased voters, she estimates a total removal of 1.2 crore people from the final list.
"Chupa Rustams" at Work: A Direct Attack on EC
Using sharp metaphors, the Chief Minister referred to those handling the data as "Chupa Rustams" (hidden players) acting in secret.
"Initially, they removed 58 lakh names. Now, they are secretly removing more names using 'logical discrepancy'—a rule that didn't even exist before. I have fought this in the Supreme Court, and the petition is still pending. I don’t know what will happen to the list to be published on February 28," Banerjee stated.
She further alleged a "BJP-EC nexus," claiming that the Commission is acting under the influence of the saffron camp to conduct what she termed as "NRC in the garb of SIR."
Legal Battle and Public Prayer
The Chief Minister, who appeared in person before the Supreme Court earlier this month, expressed sadness for those who might lose their voting rights despite having valid documents. Standing before the Manastambha (Jain pillar) in Bhabanipur, she prayed for the protection of democracy and the rights of every citizen, regardless of religion or political affiliation.
The EC’s Stand
While the Election Commission has not issued a direct rebuttal to the 1.2 crore figure, officials have maintained that the SIR process is a Supreme Court-mandated exercise to ensure a clean and error-free electoral roll. Around 250 judicial officers have been deployed to oversee the disposal of claims and objections to ensure transparency.
Disclaimer: This report is based on public statements made by the Chief Minister of West Bengal and ongoing administrative developments. The final figures for the electoral roll will be confirmed only upon the official publication by the ECI on February 28, 2026.
