Kolkata
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the CPI(M) today launched a blistering attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) during an all-party meeting convened by West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal here, accusing it of trying to exceed its constitutional limits by determining citizenship status under the guise of voter list revision.
The meeting, called to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls beginning November 4, turned stormy as both opposition and ruling party representatives questioned the ECI’s mandate.
CPI (M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said the CEO’s office “was not even prepared” for the revision exercise.
“The responsibility of the Commission is to prepare an error-free electoral roll,” he said, adding, “If a BLO (Booth Level Officer) can be appointed from outside an area, why can’t a BLA (Booth Level Agent) be from outside too? Who has authorised the Commission to decide that the eleven documents listed are the only valid proof of citizenship?”
Chakraborty further warned against politicising the process. “Whether it is branding poor people as infiltrators or including illegal voters for political gain — we oppose both,” he said.
The Trinamool Congress echoed the charge, accusing the poll body of acting on a “pre-plan to implement NRC and CAA.”
Senior TMC leader Aroop Biswas said, “We told the Commission today that under the pretext of SIR, one person has taken his life due to the fear of CAA and NRC. The Commission must take responsibility for this. Who is the Commission trying to please?”
“Everyone associated with this process—from Delhi to Kolkata—should have their parents’ names on the list first. The Commission cannot decide who is an Indian citizen. This entire exercise looks like a pre-planned move to roll out NRC and CAA. Several CAA camps have already been opened,” he continued.
TMC heavyweight Firhad Hakim warned of a strong backlash if any genuine voter was left out. “If even one genuine voter’s name from Bengal is deleted, our protests will continue,” he said.
The BJP, however, backed the Commission’s initiative. Party spokesperson Shishir Bajoria said, “Since yesterday, Trinamool’s tone has changed — and we welcome it. Our demand has always been simple: there should be no dead voters, no illegal voters, no infiltrators.”
Taking a dig at the state government, Bajoria added, “Who spread the NRC scare? We hold the Chief Minister responsible for the suicide. Prashant Kishor, the political strategist, should know better than to have his name registered in two constituencies — that’s a criminal offence. He’s a voter from the Chief Minister’s own area.”
According to officials present, CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal patiently addressed all queries raised by the parties, clarifying that the SIR was intended only to ensure the accuracy and transparency of the electoral rolls.
He will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday with all District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, and Booth-Level Officers to finalise instructions before the revision drive begins on November 4.
The process will be completed in three phases — household verification, objection and correction, and final publication — by March 2026, ahead of Assembly elections in several states next year.
The last Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal was conducted in 2002.
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