Mamata Banerjee Accuses ECI of Misclassifying Living Voters as Dead in Bengal's SIR Exercise
Synopsis
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Election Commission of India of mistakenly categorizing living voters as deceased during the Special Intensive Revision. This claim was made during her indefinite protest, raising critical questions about electoral integrity.
Key Takeaways
Mamata Banerjee alleges ECI misclassified living voters as dead.
Indefinite protest held at Esplanade East .
22 voters identified as wrongly labeled deceased.
Upcoming Assembly elections may be compromised.
Media urged to cover the issue of misclassified voters.
Kolkata, March 6 (NationPress) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has raised serious allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI), claiming that numerous living voters have been erroneously marked as deceased during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative.
"Many of these voters are present with us today. The Commission should be embarrassed for labeling individuals who are alive as dead in the SIR process. But they are here to demonstrate their existence. The ECI seems to be serving the interests of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is a disgraceful political entity," stated the Chief Minister during an indefinite sit-in protest against the SIR at Esplanade East.
During her address, the Chief Minister extended her wishes for the voters to lead long and healthy lives.
"We are making gradual progress. We have identified all 22 voters who have been inaccurately classified as deceased, even though they are very much alive. I urge the media to provide significant coverage regarding these voters, who exist but are recorded as dead by the Commission," she added.
She further expressed that the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal later this year would be a mockery unless authentic voters could participate. Prominent leaders from the Trinamool Congress and members of the booth-level officers' association associated with the party were also present at the protest site.
Notably, the location of the Chief Minister's protest is just 1.5 kilometers from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in West Bengal.
The Chief Minister's indefinite protest commenced shortly before the ECI's full bench, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, arrives in Kolkata on March 8 for a busy schedule over the following two days.
A grand stage has been erected at the protest site at Esplanade East.
While the leadership of the Trinamool Congress has not indicated how long the protest will continue, the scale of the stage and the facilities provided suggest that the demonstration may persist for an extended period.
Point of View
The allegations made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about the ECI's actions raise significant concerns regarding electoral integrity and the accuracy of voter rolls. This situation warrants careful scrutiny, as it could have implications for the democratic process in West Bengal.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mamata Banerjee accuse the Election Commission of?
Mamata Banerjee accused the Election Commission of India of incorrectly marking several living voters as deceased during the Special Intensive Revision exercise.
Where did the protest take place?
The protest took place at Esplanade East in Kolkata, just 1.5 kilometers from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer.
How many voters did the Chief Minister claim were wrongly classified?
The Chief Minister mentioned 22 voters who were mistakenly classified as deceased even though they are alive.
What did Banerjee say about the upcoming Assembly elections?
She stated that the upcoming Assembly elections would be a farce unless genuine voters are allowed to cast their votes.
When is the ECI's full bench arriving in Kolkata?
The ECI's full bench, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on March 8.
