West Bengal: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists has once caused unconnectedness in Bihar. Now, the Referendum Commission is set to launch the same process in West Bengal. This visualization has sparked a political storm. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has openly opposed the move, declaring that if lakhs of names are removed, her government will strongly resist. She warned that not a single voter’s name should be cut in Bengal.
Did the Referendum Commission Issue Alerts?
According to media sources, the Referendum Commission has directed all District Referendum Officers to remain on alert. Officials have been instructed to uncork preparations immediately since the process can start any time. The Commission has ordered that all pending work must be completed without delay, and if required, referendum offices will remain unshut round-the-clock to handle voter-related tasks.
Will This New Process Trouble Voters?
Sources reveal that the Chief Electoral Officer has asked district offices to set up defended helpdesks for voter additions and deletions. Every visualization linked to SIR must moreover be reported to the Referendum Commission. The Commission insists that the exercise will ensure a wipe electoral roll and help citizens. However, opposition parties fear that the revision could be used to summarily remove large numbers of voters.
Has This Sparked Past Controversies?
In August, when Chief Referendum Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was asked if Bengal would squatter SIR without Bihar, he said the three commissioners would decide the timing. He widow that the dates would be spoken later. Now, with the utterance that Bengal’s SIR may start from November 1, the political climate has heated up further.
What Do Old Records Reveal?
Recent findings show that nearly 45% of voters in the current Bengal rolls were not listed in the 2002 revision. This was revealed during the voter mapping exercise by the Referendum Commission. Such data has given weaponry to critics, who speak that SIR could be misused to reshape the voter wiring and tilt the political balance.
Will It Affect 2026 State Elections?
The Referendum Commission has clarified that voter mapping must be completed surpassing the 2026 Assembly elections. Officials stress that the voter list must be pearly and transparent. However, Mamata Banerjee and her party, the Trinamool Congress, speak that the process is politically motivated to favor rival parties. This has intensified the political wrestle wideness the state.
Is Public Trust at Risk?
The voter list is the windrow of democracy. If citizens finger their names are unjustly removed, their faith in the system could collapse. Mamata Banerjee is once amplifying this fear, vowing protests if any legitimate voter’s name disappears. The real test now lies with the Referendum Commission—to prove the process is transparent and restore public conviction surpassing the elections.
