SIR in Bengal: The row between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the ongoing special intensive review (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal escalated sharply on Friday as the electoral body refuted the party’s objections in detail and issued new guidelines aimed at protecting the neutrality of field-level officers. The meeting, which was attended by a 10-member TMC delegation, ended with strong words on both sides, deepening what has become one of the most contentious political flashpoints of the year.
What did the ECI convey to the TMC delegation?
According to ECI officials in the know, the Commission point-by-point refuted “every baseless allegation” leveled by the TMC and asked the party to wait till December 9, when the draft electoral rolls are released, before filing complaints or objections.
Until then, the ECI had stressed that the TMC must not interfere with the independent functioning of the Booth Officers (BLOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and District Electoral Officers (DEOs), all of whom are state government employees on deputation for election duties.
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Officials added that the TMC delegation was “told not to influence or threaten the BLO regarding dead, shifted and duplicate voters”. Emphasizing that only Indian citizens have the right to vote, the commission said, “Under Article 326 of the Constitution of India, foreigners cannot vote.
What steps has ECI taken in response to recent incidents?
In a significant step, the ECI has appointed a special observer for West Bengal to oversee the SIR process.
It has also issued a letter to the DGP, West Bengal and Kolkata Commissioner of Police directing them to ensure that the BLOs are not pressured or threatened by political workers during the exercise.
The commission has further directed all DEOs to ensure the establishment of new polling booths in slums, high-rises and gated residential colonies as per national guidelines.
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Amid concerns over recent security breaches at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, the ECI has ordered the office to be shifted to a more secure location, directing the Kolkata Police Commissioner to ensure “complete security” for both the existing and proposed premises.
Why is SIR becoming a political flashpoint in Bengal?
The TMC has repeatedly raised concerns about the SIR process, alleging bias, administrative pressure and lapses in voter roll management. At Friday’s meeting, the party described the Commission’s answers as “absolute lies”, widening the rift between the two parties.
Last week, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly expressed “serious concerns” about the SIR and urged the ECI to intervene. With allegations of deaths and BLO reshuffles rife, the Commission agreed to meet the TMC delegation, but Friday’s exchange seemed to exacerbate rather than resolve tensions.
Why did TMC start mid-SIR internal overhaul?
Parallel to the confrontation with the ECI, the TMC leadership launched a major internal shake-up to tighten grassroots oversight of the SIR. Party insiders say the move was triggered by Mamata Banerjee’s expressed displeasure over “uneven progress”.
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TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee sent nine senior leaders to the districts for ground monitoring and ordered them to “pack clothes for nine days, operate from the war room, not the party office” – a directive that reminded many leaders of the TMC’s intensive booth-level mobilization strategy ahead of the 2021 assembly elections.
During a closed-door meeting on Monday, Abhishek Banerjee reportedly named leaders whose presence on the ground he felt was insufficient. Labor Minister Moloy Ghatak and MLA Manoj Tiwari were among those selected. Abhishek warned that lack of engagement could lead to “avoidable political landmines” as the state approaches the 2026 election cycle.
He has already submitted one review report to the chief minister and is expected to submit another on December 6.
