Kolkata, November 20, 2025 – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI), urging them to halt the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, claiming the process is "deeply alarming". Banerjee alleges that the SIR is putting "inhuman" pressure on field workers, leading to tragic consequences. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has countered, stating that Banerjee's concerns stem from a fear of losing votes in the upcoming elections.
Banerjee voiced her concerns about the SIR process, highlighting the immense workload placed on Booth Level Officers (BLOs). In a statement posted on X, she expressed her shock and sadness over the death of a BLO in Jalpaiguri, who she says died by suicide due to the unbearable pressure of the SIR work. The Chief Minister stated that 28 people have died since the SIR began, some due to fear and uncertainty, and others due to stress and overload. She criticized the ECI for imposing an "unplanned, relentless workload" ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Banerjee also stated that a process that earlier took three years is now being forced into two months to please political masters.
"Such precious lives are being lost because of the unplanned, relentless workload imposed by the so-called Election Commission of India," Banerjee stated. "A process that earlier took three years is now being forced into two months on the eve of elections to please political masters, putting inhuman pressure on BLOs," she added. She urged the ECI to "act with conscience" and suspend the drive immediately, warning that more lives may be lost if the current pace of SIR work continues. "I urge the ECI to act with conscience and immediately halt this unplanned drive before more lives," she said.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders have repeatedly accused the ECI of advancing deadlines and burdening BLOs with excessive field verification tasks in the run-up to the polls. The ruling party maintains that several workers have collapsed due to long working hours, travel requirements, and pressure to meet deadlines.
Opposition parties, however, have dismissed the TMC's accusations, saying the government is attempting to deflect responsibility for poor administrative support to field-level workers. They claim that Banerjee's government is attempting to undermine the ECI's efforts to ensure a fair and accurate electoral process. The BJP has accused Banerjee of being scared of losing votes if the electoral rolls are thoroughly revised.
Banerjee has labeled the SIR as 'votebandi', comparing it to demonetisation and alleging it is being conducted hastily before elections. She questioned the timing of the revision and claimed the EC could not complete the process "in two or three months". "I do not understand the hurry in conducting SIR just before elections," she alleged. "The EC must immediately stop this exercise. The revision of electoral rolls cannot be completed in two or three months. It is being carried out forcibly," Banerjee added.
This is not the first time Banerjee has clashed with the ECI. In 2021, the ECI banned her from campaigning for 24 hours for her "highly insinuating and provocative remarks". In response, Banerjee staged a sit-in protest against the poll body.
The ECI has yet to respond to Banerjee's letter and the allegations surrounding the SIR process. The controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is likely to escalate as the upcoming elections draw closer.
