Political Tempers Flare in Bengal Ahead of Special Electoral Roll Revision

Before the commencement of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, a major political confrontation has already erupted. As Deputy Election Commissioner and senior Election Commission (EC) officials hold review meetings across the state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a sharp protest against the process—directly targeting Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal and warning of a large-scale movement in the days ahead.

Banerjee alleged that the SIR exercise is “a façade for implementing the NRC through the back door.” Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari claimed that nearly one crore names could be removed from the voter list under the SIR process. He has written to the Election Commission, urging disciplinary action against the Chief Minister for allegedly intimidating election officials.

Over the past two days, senior EC representatives have conducted extensive meetings with District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to assess the ground situation. Sources indicate that the Commission’s message has been unambiguous—any irregularities will be dealt with strictly, and the SIR may be implemented at any time.

A Political Flashpoint Ahead of 2026

The SIR process, expected to roll out soon, has effectively become the latest political flashpoint in Bengal’s run-up to the 2026 Assembly elections. What began as a technical exercise in electoral verification has now escalated into a fierce war of words between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Continuing her attack on Thursday, Mamata Banerjee accused CEO Manoj Agarwal of misconduct. “There are several complaints against the CEO himself, which I will reveal at the right time. But I hope he does not overreact—he has been threatening many officers,” she said.

Calling the SIR process “a fraud,” Banerjee alleged that it sidelines both the public and the state government. “Only a handful of officers are being summoned for meetings. Under the guise of SIR, genuine voters are being targeted. How can the Assam government send notifications to voters in Bengal?” she asked, describing the exercise as “a conspiracy to implement NRC.” She further warned that the BJP was “playing with fire.”

Her remarks signal that the TMC is gearing up for a larger statewide agitation. Even as EC officials continued their meetings, small-scale protests began surfacing in parts of the state, and political observers predict a possible escalation following the Chief Minister’s statements.

BJP Counters With Sharp Rebuke

The BJP has hit back strongly. Suvendu Adhikari urged the Election Commission to take immediate cognisance of Banerjee’s comments. “Mamata Banerjee’s repeated attempts to undermine the democratic process and intimidate constitutional officers must not go unpunished. I also request that Central security be provided to the CEO, both at his office and residence, given the prevailing lawlessness in the state,” Adhikari said.

BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya also criticised the Chief Minister, accusing her of having “crossed all limits of political and constitutional propriety” by threatening unrest over the SIR process. State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya echoed the sentiment, remarking, “She knows exactly what’s happening on the ground. It is fear that drives such statements.”

With both sides hardening their stances, the political temperature in Bengal is expected to rise sharply in the coming weeks. The Special Intensive Revision process—intended as an administrative exercise—has already transformed into the first major battleground in what promises to be a turbulent lead-up to the 2026 elections.