In a two-page letter addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner on Saturday, Banerjee claimed the SIR exercise lacked “human sensitivity” and was carried out in a manner that created fear and pressure among ordinary citizens. She said at least 17 people reportedly fell ill during the process, while many others were subjected to repeated summons and scrutiny over minor discrepancies.
The Chief Minister alleged that even prominent and elderly individuals were not spared. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, poet Joy Goswami, actor-turned-MP Deepak Adhikari and Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami were among those asked to establish their identity, she wrote, calling the process excessive and insensitive.
Banerjee highlighted large-scale deletions from the draft electoral rolls. According to figures cited in her letter, West Bengal had 7.66 crore registered voters prior to the revision, while the draft SIR list includes 7.08 crore names. This amounts to the removal of 58.20 lakh voters, or about 7.6 per cent of the electorate. Of these, 24.17 lakh were marked as deceased, 1.38 lakh as duplicate or fake, and 32.65 lakh as shifted, missing or falling under other categories.
Outlining six major concerns, Banerjee said women voters who changed their surnames after marriage were being repeatedly summoned, terming it an insult to women and genuine voters. She also alleged that untrained observers were deployed in several areas, with some citizens allegedly labelled as traitors. The Chief Minister said police personnel were acting as guards for observers instead of protecting the public.
She further claimed that corrections were being undertaken selectively under the pretext of irregularities, suggesting political bias. Banerjee also pointed to procedural inconsistencies, alleging that West Bengal was made to use a different digital portal from other states and that rules were altered mid-process. Minor spelling errors, small age mismatches and clerical mistakes, she said, were being used to harass voters.
Earlier this month, Banerjee had accused the EC of conducting SIR through a “BJP-linked mobile application” and warned that eligible voters were being wrongly declared dead. She urged citizens to remain vigilant and assist those facing difficulties during the revision, stating that humanitarian concerns should override political considerations.
The Election Commission has yet to issue a detailed response to the allegations.
