Ahead of her scheduled meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Banerjee criticised the Delhi Police for what she described as excessive security outside Raj Bhavan, where families of alleged SIR victims are staying. The Chief Minister said police personnel were entering rooms and conducting checks, a move she termed unnecessary and contrary to democratic norms.
“There is no justification for such heavy security. They will speak through democratic procedures,” Banerjee told reporters, referring to the families who are expected to address the media on Tuesday. She said the relatives would narrate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of their family members and the difficulties they faced during the SIR process.
Banerjee directly blamed the voter list revision exercise for triggering fear among vulnerable sections, particularly the elderly and marginalised. She alleged that stress caused by repeated verification, documentation demands and uncertainty over voter status had contributed to the deaths. “The Election Commission has declared many people dead without understanding the realities on the ground in West Bengal,” she said, adding that officials were disconnected from the hardships faced by ordinary citizens.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has consistently opposed the SIR exercise in the state, accusing election authorities of administrative harassment and creating an atmosphere of intimidation. The party claims that the process has disproportionately affected poor households, migrant workers and senior citizens.
According to Banerjee, bringing affected families to Delhi was intended to ensure that their voices were heard at the national level. Journalists are expected to attend the interaction on Tuesday, where family members will outline their grievances and allege lapses in the implementation of the exercise.
The Chief Minister is scheduled to meet the Chief Election Commissioner at 4 pm on Monday. The meeting is expected to focus on the conduct of the SIR, the criteria used for verification, and the safeguards in place to prevent exclusion or distress. Banerjee has sought immediate intervention, alleging that the process has undermined public confidence in electoral administration.
Election Commission officials have not publicly responded to the allegations so far. Sources indicated that the ECI maintains the SIR is a routine exercise aimed at ensuring accurate electoral rolls, with adequate checks to prevent wrongful deletions.
The issue has sharpened political tensions in West Bengal, with the ruling TMC framing the dispute as a fight to protect voters’ rights, while opposition parties accuse the state government of politicising an administrative process. The outcome of Banerjee’s meeting with the ECI is likely to shape the next phase of the controversy.
