Mamata Banerjee Meets Chief Election Commissioner Over SIR Controversy, Alleges Deaths Linked to Exercise

The delegation, which included senior Trinamool Congress leaders Abhishek Banerjee and Kalyan Banerjee, comprised 12 family representatives who claimed they were directly impacted by the SIR exercise. According to the Chief Minister, some individuals were erroneously declared dead, while others allegedly died due to stress and anxiety linked to the verification process.

Security was tightened at Election Sadan, with a heavy deployment of Delhi Police and central armed forces outside the premises. Banerjee, who arrived wearing black as a mark of protest, expressed strong displeasure over what she described as excessive security measures. She also objected to police checks at Bongo Bhavan, where relatives of the affected families are staying, calling the actions unnecessary and contrary to democratic norms.

“They will speak following democratic procedures. There is no reason for such excessive security,” Banerjee said before entering the meeting. She further alleged that the Election Commission failed to understand the ground realities in West Bengal, claiming that administrative actions under the SIR exercise had caused widespread fear among vulnerable sections of society.

The meeting formally began at 4 pm, with representatives presenting their grievances directly to the Election Commission. Banerjee accused the poll body of administrative overreach and maintained that the SIR exercise, intended to update electoral rolls, had instead resulted in confusion and distress at the grassroots level.

The Chief Minister also announced that several affected families brought to Delhi would address the media on Tuesday. According to her, they will narrate their experiences and the hardships faced following the deaths of their relatives, which they attribute to SIR-related stress.

The SIR exercise has sparked sharp political reactions in West Bengal, with the Trinamool Congress alleging harassment and fear-mongering, while the Election Commission has maintained that the process is necessary to ensure accurate electoral rolls. The outcome of the meeting is expected to influence the next steps in addressing the controversy and could shape the broader political discourse ahead of upcoming electoral milestones.