Mamata Banerjee targets Election Commission on National Voters’ Day, alleges voter-list drive risks disenfranchisement
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the Election Commission on National Voters’ Day, accusing it of acting under BJP influence and calling a voter-roll exercise an “NRC-like” trial. The TMC alleged the EC has not published a “logical discrepancy” list by a deadline it cited, warning of potential disenfranchisement ahead of state polls.
- Reporting desk
- Health India Network News Desk
- First published
A Voters’ Day attack on the poll body
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee escalated her criticism of the Election Commission on National Voters’ Day, arguing that the institution was celebrating the occasion while, in her view, undermining citizens’ voting rights. She described the Commission’s conduct as partisan and accused it of functioning under BJP influence.
Banerjee’s comments were framed around a voter verification exercise referred to in the report as SIR, which she likened to an “NRC-like” process. She alleged it would disproportionately affect minorities as well as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and warned that it could deny legitimate voters the franchise.
Claims of non-compliance and demands for transparency
According to the account, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged that the Election Commission had not made public a “logical discrepancy” list connected to voter scrutiny, and highlighted a deadline the party said had passed. TMC leaders also used rallies and social media to demand clarity about who is being flagged and why.
Banerjee argued that the Commission should focus on protecting voting rights, and she accused the EC of using “newer and newer pretexts” to harass citizens. The report also described the party’s claim that scrutiny could cover a very large number of voters, fuelling fears about disenfranchisement.
Political stakes ahead of West Bengal elections
The confrontation comes at a politically sensitive moment, with West Bengal moving towards its next assembly election cycle in 2026. The EC and parties are expected to face sustained pressure over voter-roll accuracy, verification processes and the transparency of any corrective measures.
The episode underlines how election administration can become a central political battleground, especially when parties believe the rules, timelines or data disclosures could tilt participation and turnout.