Calling it the “eighth SIR-related suicide,” the TMC accused the BJP of instilling fear among vulnerable communities. The party reiterated its demand to suspend the voter verification exercise, calling it politically motivated ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, members of the Matua community, led by TMC MP Mamata Bala Thakur, began an indefinite hunger strike in Thakurnagar demanding unconditional citizenship for Bangladeshi-origin refugees. BJP MP Shantanu Thakur termed the protest a “political stunt,” accusing the TMC of exploiting refugee concerns while opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
In a parallel development, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that his government will challenge the SIR process in the Supreme Court. All major parties except the BJP supported the move, with Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan stating that the Congress is ready to join the case as a co-petitioner.
On November 4, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a 3.8-km protest march in Kolkata, calling the SIR a “political tool to manipulate voter rolls.” The DMK government in Tamil Nadu has also moved the Supreme Court against the exercise, calling it unconstitutional.
The Election Commission has maintained that SIR is a routine voter list update across 12 states and union territories, covering 51 crore voters, and assured that no eligible voter will be excluded without due process.
