NDA Condemns Mamata Banerjee's Protest Against Electoral Roll Revision
Patna: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Monday launched a sharp critique of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her proposed March 6 sit-in protest against the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in her state. This development comes as the Election Commission (EC) is expected to announce the schedule for the West Bengal assembly polls next week.
Allegations of Voter List Tampering
Following the EC's publication of post-SIR electoral rolls on February 28, Mamata Banerjee alleged that the names of 63.66 lakh genuine voters have been deliberately removed from the lists by the BJP and the Election Commission to manipulate the electoral balance in their favor. The NDA has strongly refuted these claims, framing the SIR as a necessary process for electoral integrity.
BJP Leaders Launch Counter-Attack
BJP national president Nitin Nabin, who arrived in Kishanganj on Monday, responded to the allegations by stating that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government refuses to provide land for border fencing due to its appeasement policies. "Didi does not want the people of Bengal to be safe and secure. That's why she opposes SIR," he asserted.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh escalated the attack, claiming that Mamata Banerjee has transformed from the chief minister of a state into the chief minister of bad governance. He suggested her opposition stems from fear that approximately one crore votes of Bangladeshi infiltrators will be deleted. "Why will she protest against the SIR? Does she want infiltrators to become citizens of India?" he questioned.
Accusations of Unlawful Enrollment
Giriraj Singh further alleged that Mamata Banerjee has unlawfully enrolled around one crore Bangladeshi Muslims by facilitating Aadhaar and ration cards for them. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai echoed these sentiments, accusing Mamata and her party of practicing appeasement politics. He emphasized that the people of West Bengal are suffering the consequences of the TMC government's actions.
Alliance Partners Weigh In
JD(U) spokesman and MLC Neeraj Kumar stated that those questioning the SIR are not genuinely concerned with public interest issues. He noted that the opposition attempted to make the SIR an issue during the recent Bihar assembly elections and faced defeat. Similarly, RLM chief and former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha commented that TMC members, anticipating certain defeat in the upcoming elections, are desperately resorting to such tactics.
The political confrontation highlights the escalating tensions in West Bengal as election preparations intensify, with the NDA positioning the SIR as a measure for electoral purity and the TMC framing it as a targeted disenfranchisement strategy.
