Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee issued a fiery call to arms on Sunday, framing the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists as a battle his party will not back down from. Addressing a massive gathering of over one lakh party workers in Kolkata, the Diamond Harbour MP declared a firm stance against perceived injustices in the electoral roll process.
A Call to Action and a Delhi Confrontation
Banerjee instructed the cadre, particularly the Booth Level Agent-2s (BLA-2s), to be unwavering in their participation. He asserted their right to be present at all SIR hearings and demanded that any official attempting to bar them must provide written orders justifying the action. To escalate the matter, Banerjee revealed plans to lead a Trinamool delegation to the Election Commission of India's headquarters in Delhi on December 31 for a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Directing his message to the party's grassroots workers, Banerjee credited them as the primary obstacle to the BJP's plans in Bengal. He urged them to sustain their efforts for the next six weeks, accusing the BJP's central leadership of attempting to "starve" Bengal and its state leaders of threatening large-scale voter deletions. He countered this by highlighting that Bengal recorded the fewest deletions in the SIR process compared to twelve other states and Union Territories where the exercise was conducted, noting the numbers were similar to a routine annual summary revision.
Pushing for Virtual Hearings and Decrying Harassment
One of the central demands put forth by the TMC leader was for the introduction of online SIR hearings. Banerjee argued that migrant workers from Bengal employed outside the state are unable to return home for in-person hearings. "If the Supreme Court and high courts can conduct online hearings, why can't the EC?" he questioned. He challenged the Election Commission to either cover travel expenses and lost wages for these workers or provide a written order mandating physical presence so the party could pursue legal action.
On the ground, senior Trinamool leaders were actively monitoring the situation. Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim met with BLAs in Chetla and Alipore, while MLA and minister Sashi Panja visited hearing centres in Shyampukur. Panja pointed out a significant flaw, stating that hearing notices often fail to specify the reason for the summons, leading to confusion and harassment for citizens unsure of which documents to bring.
Allegations of Inconsistency and Torture
Adding to the criticism, TMC MP Partha Bhowmik alleged that the EC was summoning elderly and ailing individuals categorized as "unmapped" due to discrepancies in their forms. He labeled this practice as "nothing short of torture," pointing out the irony that during elections, poll personnel are sent to the homes of those with mobility issues. He demanded to know why the same compassionate procedure could not be applied during the SIR process.
Banerjee's rallying cry and the coordinated efforts of TMC leaders underscore the high political stakes attached to the voter list revision in Bengal. With the party framing it as a defensive war against bias and logistical unfairness, the stage is set for a tense confrontation with the Election Commission in the final days of the year.
