Mamata Banerjee Escalates SIR Dispute with Supreme Court Petition and CEC Meeting
In a significant political development, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, acting as the chairperson of the Trinamool Congress, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Election Commission and the Bengal chief electoral officer. The legal action targets the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, a move that has sparked controversy ahead of the upcoming Bengal assembly elections. The apex court has listed her plea for hearing, adding a judicial dimension to the ongoing electoral dispute.
Meeting with Chief Election Commissioner and Delegation Plans
The Supreme Court filing coincides with Banerjee's scheduled meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar at 4 pm on Monday. During this meeting, she will lead a 15-member delegation that includes family members of individuals whose deaths have been attributed to SIR-related stress, as well as voters incorrectly marked as 'dead' on the draft electoral roll published last month. This delegation aims to highlight the human impact of the SIR process and push for electoral integrity.
Criticism of Union Budget 2026-27 as 'Humpty Dumpty'
Speaking shortly after the presentation of the Union Budget 2026-27, Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the central government, labeling it a 'Humpty Dumpty Budget'. She argued that the 'jugglery of words' and 'sound and fury' in Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's speech failed to conceal what she described as a lack of benefits for Bengal. Without directly mentioning her Supreme Court petition, she accused the BJP of weaponizing the SIR process with an eye on the impending state elections.
Allegations of BJP Weaponizing SIR and Electoral Strategy
At the Kolkata airport before departing for Delhi, Banerjee told reporters, 'They will lose in Bengal. That is why they are weaponising SIR. I would appeal to them to fight democratically and politically, instead of using EC and other agencies, if they have the guts.' She further claimed that the SIR had contributed to opposition losses in Haryana and Maharashtra, and predicted similar tactics would backfire in other regions. Banerjee expressed confidence in non-BJP parties winning in Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, while forecasting a BJP defeat in Assam.
Delhi Schedule and Federal Structure Concerns
Indicating her intent to take the SIR protests to the national capital, Banerjee stated, 'They (EC) have given us an appointment at 4 pm tomorrow. We will brief the press after the meeting.' She mentioned plans to meet with Trinamool MPs in Delhi, emphasizing her duty as chairperson of the parliamentary committee. The CM hinted at staying in Delhi until February 4, when the Supreme Court is expected to hear related petitions filed by party colleagues Derek O'Brien, Dola Sen, and Mahua Moitra, and she may attend these hearings.
Legal and Political Implications of the Petition
While the exact contents of Banerjee's civil writ petition remain undisclosed, it names both the Election Commission and the Bengal CEO as respondents. Filed on January 28 and registered on January 30, the case is currently shown as 'pending' on the Supreme Court website. In a related move, Banerjee sent a letter to CEC Kumar on Saturday—her sixth since the SIR rollout on November 4—questioning the appointment of 8,100 micro-observers in Bengal, whom she alleges are manipulating voter data.
Upcoming Assembly Session and Broader Context
Banerjee is expected to return to Kolkata by February 5, when the Bengal assembly begins deliberations on her government's vote-on-account in this election year. This series of actions underscores the escalating tensions between the Trinamool Congress and central authorities over electoral processes and federal dynamics. The CM framed the issue as part of a larger battle to protect India's federal structure, accusing the BJP of undermining it through initiatives like SIR.
