July 21, 2025 —
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is attempting to replicate the Special Summary Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, recently initiated in Bihar, in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Addressing a gathering in Kolkata, Banerjee said, “The BJP is trying to carry out a voter verification drive in Bengal just like they did in Bihar. I will not allow this to happen. This is a conspiracy to tamper with the voter rolls and disenfranchise large sections of people.”
The Chief Minister’s remarks come less than a month after the Election Commission of India announced a Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar on June 24, 2025. The EC stated that the exercise was routine and aimed at updating voter records before the upcoming Assembly elections. However, opposition parties have questioned the timing and alleged that the process may be politically motivated.
Banerjee accused the BJP of misusing administrative processes to alter the voter base, particularly targeting minority communities and opposition strongholds. “This is part of their larger plan. First NRC, then CAA, and now this so-called verification. We will resist it with all our strength,” she added.
Reacting to the statement, BJP leaders in West Bengal dismissed the allegations. Party spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said Banerjee was “indulging in baseless fear-mongering” and reiterated that the party only supports legitimate electoral updates to ensure free and fair elections. “The Chief Minister seems afraid of a clean voter list. What is she trying to hide?” Bhattacharya questioned.
Political analysts noted that the issue has reignited tensions between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP as both parties prepare for a high-stakes battle in the 2026 Assembly elections. The debate over electoral roll revisions has also revived memories of previous protests in West Bengal against the NRC and CAA, which had sparked widespread unrest.
The Election Commission, so far, has not announced any such verification drive for West Bengal. However, Banerjee’s comments suggest that any move in this direction could face strong resistance from the state government.
Opposition parties and civil society groups have also expressed concerns about potential voter exclusion, especially among marginalized communities, if such revisions are carried out without transparency and safeguards.
As the political temperature rises, all eyes are now on the Election Commission and its next steps. The controversy underscores the increasingly contentious nature of electoral processes in politically sensitive states like West Bengal.
