New Delhi, November 28, 2025 – A ten-member Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation met with the Election Commission (EC) today to express grave concerns regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The delegation alleged that the SIR process has led to at least 40 deaths in the state and accused the poll body of having "blood on its hands".
The TMC delegation, which included five Lok Sabha and five Rajya Sabha MPs, met with the full bench of the Election Commission in Delhi. TMC MP Derek O'Brien stated that the delegation presented a list of 40 people who have died due to the SIR process, some of whom were Booth Level Officers (BLOs). The delegation claimed the Election Commission appeared surprised by the reported deaths. Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra stated that the CEC dismissed the deaths as mere allegations.
The party raised five questions during the meeting but claimed that CEC Gyanesh Kumar did not respond to them. The TMC questioned the "real purpose" of the SIR, suggesting that Bengalis were being unfairly targeted in an effort to cleanse voter rolls. They questioned why the SIR was being conducted in West Bengal but not in other border states like Assam, where the EC settled for a "special revision" instead. The delegation also questioned how the voter list could be deemed unreliable within a year of being used to elect Lok Sabha MPs in 2024. The delegation also voiced concerns regarding the neutrality and effectiveness of the SIR process, especially concerning the appointment of "external" booth-level agents (BLAs).
O'Brien clarified that the TMC is not opposed to the SIR in principle but strongly objects to the "unplanned" and "heartless" manner in which it is being carried out. He described the SIR exercise as "completely unplanned and heartless". The TMC also raised concerns about the well-being of BLOs, alleging that 15 are currently receiving medical treatment due to stress related to the SIR. The party questioned who would take responsibility for the lives lost and affected by the SIR process.
The Election Commission stated that it had rebutted all points raised by the TMC. The poll body has directed the Director General of Police of West Bengal and the Kolkata Police Commissioner to ensure that BLOs are not pressured or threatened by political party workers. The ECI also advised the TMC delegation to refrain from spreading misinformation regarding election procedures. O'Brien responded that none of the five questions posed by the TMC were answered.
The TMC went so far as to suggest that if the present voter list is untrustworthy, the validity of the Lok Sabha is called into question and the house should be dissolved. The party indicated it intends to use the Bengali identity issue in pushing back against the SIR ahead of the 2026 West Bengal assembly polls.
