Mamata Banerjee Launches Indefinite Sit-In Protest Against SIR in Kolkata
Synopsis
West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee kicks off an indefinite sit-in protest at Esplanade East, Kolkata, demanding electoral reforms and inclusion of all genuine voters ahead of upcoming Assembly elections. The protest coincides with the Election Commission's upcoming visit.
Key Takeaways
Mamata Banerjee begins an indefinite sit-in protest in Kolkata.
The protest is against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
Key demands include voter inclusion and judicial transparency.
The protest coincides with the Election Commission's visit to the state.
Other parties like CPI(M) and Congress are raising similar concerns.
Kolkata, March 6 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, is set to initiate an indefinite sit-in protest at Esplanade East in Central Kolkata starting Friday afternoon. This demonstration is against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in the state.
According to the plan, Trinamool Congress workers and leaders will begin gathering at Esplanade East this morning. The Chief Minister is anticipated to arrive around 2 p.m. to commence the protest.
“Currently, the sit-in is planned to continue indefinitely. Our primary demands are to ensure that no genuine voter is removed from the voters’ list and that the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal should not proceed while 63 lakh cases awaiting judicial review are excluded from the voters’ list,” stated a senior leader of the Trinamool Congress.
Interestingly, the site of the Chief Minister’s demonstration is located just 1.5 kilometers from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal. This indefinite protest is taking place just ahead of the arrival of the full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI), led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who is scheduled to visit Kolkata on the night of March 8.
A large stage has been constructed at the protest site in Esplanade East. Although the Trinamool Congress leadership has not indicated how long the demonstration will last, the scale of the stage and the facilities available suggest that the protest may continue for an extended period.
In a related note, the CPI(M) has been conducting a prolonged 24-hour sit-in in front of the CEO’s office, which started Wednesday afternoon and concluded Thursday afternoon, demanding that elections should not be held in the state until the ongoing judicial review of voters’ documents classified as having “logical discrepancies” is resolved.
Veteran CPI(M) leader and chairman of the Left Front in West Bengal, Biman Bose, has asserted that their representatives will present the same demand during their meeting with the ECI's full bench on March 9.
The Congress party has also communicated with the ECI, insisting that polling should occur only after the judicial adjudication process is completed.
Point of View
Mamata Banerjee's indefinite protest highlights the pressing need for electoral integrity in West Bengal. The ongoing demands for voter inclusion and judicial transparency reflect broader concerns about the electoral process in the state.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the reason behind Mamata Banerjee's protest?
The protest is against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, demanding that no genuine voters be removed from the voters' list and that the upcoming elections not proceed without addressing pending judicial cases.
Where is the sit-in protest being held?
The sit-in protest is taking place at Esplanade East in Central Kolkata.
How long is the protest expected to last?
The demonstration is planned to continue indefinitely, although no specific timeframe has been provided by the leadership.
What other political parties are involved in similar protests?
The CPI(M) has also conducted a sit-in protest demanding that elections should not occur until ongoing judicial reviews of voter documents are resolved.
What are the demands of the Trinamool Congress in this protest?
The main demands include ensuring all genuine voters remain on the list and that the Assembly elections are not conducted while excluding cases under judicial review.
