Mamata Banerjee urges EC to stop SIR in Bengal, warns of human cost

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has formally asked the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to halt the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in her state, raising serious concerns over the safety and workload of booth-level officers (BLOs), and warning that human costs are mounting.

In a detailed three-page letter, Banerjee described the SIR process as “unplanned, chaotic and dangerous”, arguing that officials and voters alike are being forced into an exercise for which adequate preparation has not been made. She said the absence of “even basic preparedness, adequate planning or clear communication has crippled the process from day one.”

BLO deaths, workload, pressure

Banerjee pointed to multiple deaths among BLOs as a result of the intense pressure under which the revision is being conducted. She referred specifically to an anganwadi worker in Jalpaiguri’s Mal area, who was working as a BLO and died by suicide.

The chief minister wrote: “BLOs are now operating far beyond human limits … instead of offering support, extending timelines or addressing systemic flaws, the office of the CEO of West Bengal has resorted to intimidation.” According to her, many BLOs struggle with online submissions due to server failures and data mismatches.

Banerjee also warned that by the 4 December deadline, accurate data could be difficult to upload. “At this pace, it is almost certain that by December 4, voter data … cannot be uploaded maintaining required accuracy,” she said.

Electoral integrity under threat

The chief minister went further to suggest that the way SIR is being conducted could undermine the very legitimacy of the voter list. She cautioned that BLOs, under fear of punitive action, might be forced to submit incorrect or incomplete entries. “Under extreme pressure and ‘fear of punitive action’, many BLOs were being pushed into filing incorrect or incomplete entries, risking disenfranchisement of genuine voters and eroding the integrity of the electoral roll.”

The chief minister's letter urged the Election Commission to “intervene decisively to halt the ongoing exercise, stop coercive measures, provide proper training and support, and thoroughly reassess the present methodology and timelines.”

Political backlash

The appeal by Banerjee has drawn fierce criticism from opposition leaders. The BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari accused her of launching a “desperate attempt” to derail the voter list revision. He claimed that her concerns were politically motivated and aimed at shielding what he called “lakhs … of bogus voters and illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators.”

The LoP in the West Bengal assembly said she was trying to protect her “vote bank” by slowing down a drive that, according to him, would expose large-scale irregularities.

Appeal to electoral body, demand for corrective action

In her letter, Banerjee insisted on an immediate suspension of the SIR exercise, calling for more than just a pause. She demanded systemic reform, with “proper training and support” for BLOs and a re-evaluation of the underlying methodology and timelines.

The chief minister warned that if the process continued in its current shape, it could lead to more tragedies. “If this path is not corrected without delay, the consequences — for the system, the officials and the citizens — will be irreversible,” she wrote.

Banerjee’s letter comes amid growing alarm over the strain on election workers, the electoral roll’s reliability, and accusations of coercive implementation made by her government. The Election Commission has said it will review her concerns carefully and respond “in due course.”