TMC launches protest against SIR Exercise in Bengal

November 4, 2025

Kolkata, Nov 4: In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a protest march in Kolkata on Tuesday against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) (literally, voter list verification). She was accompanied by party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and a large number of party workers in the 3.8 km long rally.

SIR began today, Tuesday, in 12 states and union territories. Of these, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and West Bengal have elections in 2026. Assam also has elections next year. However, the SIR schedule there has not yet been finalized.

Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) has accused the voter list revision process of being a covert fraud, orchestrated by the BJP government and the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, described Mamata Banerjee’s march as a Jamaat rally. He said, “It is against the morality of the Indian Constitution.” Meanwhile, Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya said, “If Mamata Banerjee has something to say, she should approach the Supreme Court.”

Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal was being used by the BJP-led Centre to “intimidate and disenfranchise” ordinary citizens.

Speaking at a massive rally in central Kolkata, Banerjee claimed that fear surrounding the SIR exercise had led to the deaths of seven people in the last seven days.

“In the last seven days, we have lost seven lives due to the fear of SIR in Bengal. All of them were eligible voters. Their family members are present here with us today,” Banerjee said.

TMC Leader Warns of Nationwide Protest

Banerjee accused the Centre of using the voter list revision drive as a political weapon to manipulate the democratic process ahead of the elections.

He urged party workers and citizens to “stay ready to hit the streets in New Delhi” if the alleged harassment of voters continued.

“The BJP wants to delete the names of genuine voters and silence the voices of Bengal. We will not allow this conspiracy to succeed,” he asserted.

Background: What Is the SIR Exercise?

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a nationwide voter roll verification campaign initiated by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The second phase of the exercise began recently across nine states and three Union Territories, including West Bengal, to remove duplicate, shifted, or deceased voters.

However, the TMC has alleged that the process is being “misused” in BJP-ruled states and is now being “weaponized” against Bengal’s voters.