According to the notice issued under the SIR process, Kabir has been asked to appear for a hearing on Friday at DPS Ruby Park School in Kolkata. The issue relates to the absence of his name from the voter list in 2002, a period during which he was posted in Europe on a United Nations deputation under the Ministry of External Affairs. Election officials have sought clarification regarding his electoral status during that time.
Reacting sharply, Kabir questioned the logic of the Election Commission of India (ECI), stating that despite possessing a valid voter ID card, PAN card and passport, he was still required to explain his eligibility. In his Facebook post, Kabir said he also holds copies of his diplomatic passport issued during his overseas posting. Striking a sarcastic note, the MLA remarked that he would now attempt to prove his identity using his IPS appointment letter and Pension Payment Order, calling the entire exercise a “mockery.” He concluded the post with a pointed salute to the Election Commission.
Kabir’s remarks have further fuelled the political storm surrounding the SIR process, which the Trinamool Congress has consistently opposed. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has described the revision exercise as “complicated and inhumane,” alleging that it has caused widespread harassment of voters. Over the past weeks, Banerjee has led protest marches alongside senior party leaders, ministers, elected representatives and prominent public figures.
TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has also issued a strong warning, stating that the party would launch a large-scale protest in Delhi if even one eligible voter’s name is removed from the rolls due to the SIR process. Earlier, a Trinamool delegation led by Abhishek Banerjee met Election Commission officials in the national capital, alleging that their concerns were not adequately addressed.
The Chief Minister has written multiple letters to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, outlining what she termed serious flaws in the revision exercise. According to TMC leaders, these letters have so far gone unanswered. Political circles are now closely watching a proposed meeting between Mamata Banerjee and the Chief Election Commissioner, expected on Monday, which is seen as a potential turning point in the standoff.
With SIR hearings continuing and opposition intensifying, the controversy has raised broader questions about voter verification, administrative transparency and public trust in the electoral process in West Bengal.
