Are Mamata Banerjee's Critiques of ECI's New Electoral Roll Guidelines a Sign of Fear?

Kolkata, June 27 (NationPress) The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has voiced strong criticisms regarding the Election Commission of India (ECI)’s new electoral roll revision norms, with BJP leaders suggesting that these remarks stem from a fear that her traditional support base of illegal Bangladeshi migrants may be diminished.

On Thursday, Banerjee asserted that while the ECI introduced these new guidelines before the Bihar Assembly elections this year, in actuality, they are primarily focused on West Bengal, where elections are slated for next year.

She further expressed concerns that these revised regulations could pave the way for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

In response, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, commented on Friday that Banerjee has come to realize that a significant number of illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators, including those from a Rohingya background, who have been part of her electoral support for years, may now be eliminated. Thus, she is attacking the commission.

“We appreciate the ECI guidelines. We advocate for linking EPIC cards with Aadhaar cards and incorporating biometrics. The Chief Minister seems to be suffering from a form of paranoia since many individuals in her vote bank stand to be removed due to the ECI’s measures,” the Leader of the Opposition stated.

Recently, an individual named Newton Das from the Kakdwip sub-division in South 24 Parganas district was found by the commission to be registered in both Indian and Bangladeshi voters’ lists, leading to the removal of his name from India’s voter list.

BJP’s Chief of the Information Technology Cell and the party's central observer for West Bengal, Amit Malviya, also mocked the Chief Minister’s expressed fears regarding the ECI’s roll revision policies.

He described her claims that the ECI’s guidelines mark the initial steps toward the NRC as “shocking and irresponsible,” asserting that these actions by the commission are lawful and standard procedures to eliminate illegal immigrants who were incorporated into Bengal’s voter rolls by the ruling Trinamool and the previous CPI(M).

“What has made Mamata Banerjee anxious? Is she concerned that the fraudulent vote bank she has created over the years—through unchecked infiltration and appeasement—is finally being scrutinized?” he asserted.

“Ensuring clean and precise voter rolls does not equate to the NRC. It is about maintaining electoral integrity. Only those who benefit from illegal votes fear a system cleanse,” Malviya stated.