Mamata Banerjee Condemns ECI for Voter List Purges

Key Takeaways

Mamata Banerjee criticizes the Election Commission for targeting religious organizations.

300 names from Missionaries of Charity reportedly deleted.

High deletions noted in minority-populated districts.

Trinamool Congress promises aid to affected voters.

Allegations of political collusion between CPI(M) and BJP.

Kolkata, April 7 (NationPress) West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, has fiercely criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) in the state. She accused the Commission of targeting even those affiliated with various religious and charitable organizations during this process.

During her campaign rallies held in Nadia and North 24 Parganas districts, Banerjee highlighted the unfair deletions affecting notable groups, specifically mentioning the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda, as well as the Missionaries of Charity, established by Mother Teresa. She expressed her dismay over the deletion of names belonging to 300 individuals associated with the Missionaries of Charity.

“Even the monks associated with the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission were not spared,” she noted.

Banerjee asserted that the Commission deliberately focused on regions with significant populations of minorities and socially disadvantaged communities, leading to the highest number of deletions in these areas.

She pointed out that districts such as Malda, Murshidabad, North Dinajpur, South 24 Parganas, and Nadia experienced the most deletions.

In the Bangaon subdivision of North 24 Parganas, members of the Matua community appeared to have been specifically targeted. Additionally, areas like Chakdaha and Haringhata in Nadia, along with Gaighata in North 24 Parganas, reported significant voter list deletions,” she added.

Furthermore, the Chief Minister alleged that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) had teamed up covertly with the Bharatiya Janata Party in various assembly constituencies, arguing that CPI(M) leaders were aware of their electoral hopelessness and sought to aid the BJP's victory by fracturing anti-BJP votes.

She emphasized that CPI(M) members should face a repeat of their 2021 assembly polls outcome, where they ended up with zero seats.

During her address, she assured that the Trinamool Congress would provide all necessary support to voters whose names had been struck off, helping them restore their voting rights through the Appellate Tribunals set up for this purpose.

Banerjee accused the BJP and the ECI of systematically removing voters and vowed to thwart their plans.

Point of View

Mamata Banerjee's allegations against the Election Commission underscore the tensions surrounding voter rights and electoral integrity. The situation merits close attention as it could influence future electoral outcomes.

NationPress

21 Jul 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Mamata Banerjee accuse the ECI of?

Mamata Banerjee accused the Election Commission of India of unfairly deleting names from the voter list, particularly targeting members of religious and charitable organizations.

Which organizations were specifically mentioned by Banerjee?

Banerjee specifically named the Ramakrishna Math, Ramakrishna Mission, and Missionaries of Charity during her criticism of the ECI.

What areas were most affected by the voter deletions?

The districts most affected included Malda, Murshidabad, North Dinajpur, South 24 Parganas, and Nadia.

What support will the Trinamool Congress provide to affected voters?

The Trinamool Congress will assist voters whose names were deleted in regaining their voting rights through Appellate Tribunals.

What political strategy did Banerjee accuse the CPI(M) of?

Banerjee accused the CPI(M) of colluding with the BJP to divide anti-BJP votes to ensure BJP victories in certain constituencies.