TMC’s Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee gear up to resist SIR in West Bengal with virtual meetings and mobilization — is mass exclusion the next frontier?
Kolkata, August 3 — West Bengal is bracing for a high-stakes political battle as Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee prepare to launch a full-scale resistance against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. With allegations of a “mass exclusion” strategy echoing from the Bihar SIR experience, the TMC is positioning this as a constitutional fight for the integrity of Bengal’s electorate.
Top-Level Strategy Begins August 4–5
According to TMC insiders, Mamata will host a virtual briefing with all Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs on August 4, followed by a massive digital strategy session led by Abhishek Banerjee on August 5, with over 9,000 party workers, MPs, MLAs, and block leaders expected to join.
“This is a top-down approach,” said a senior TMC MP. “Didi will instruct MPs to raise the issue at the national level, while Abhishek will command a ground-level movement in every block of Bengal.”
The move comes days after the Election Commission instructed Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manoj Agarwal, to begin preparations for the SIR process. The party fears that this could mirror the Bihar SIR, where thousands were allegedly removed from the voter rolls—many without due process.
Mamata’s Delhi Focus: EC Protest on August 8
TMC leaders say Mamata will guide MPs on how to highlight the SIR issue in Parliament and national media, particularly referencing recent cases of harassment and deportation of Bengali-speaking migrant workers.
Trinamool MPs are expected to join other INDIA bloc members in a coordinated protest at the Election Commission headquarters in New Delhi on August 8, amplifying concerns of an orchestrated voter exclusion campaign with alleged support from the EC to benefit the BJP.
Abhishek’s Cadre Activation Plan
On August 5, Abhishek will brief local leaders across all districts, urging them to ensure not a single eligible voter is dropped.
“He’s going to ask the party to keep up full tempo through the SIR process,” said a senior aide. “No monsoon or festival break—we have to stay alert until the very last day.”
The Election Commission has already asked the CEO for lists of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and party-nominated Booth Level Agents (BLAs), who will be critical during home visits and voter verification.
Abhishek has also intervened in a developing humanitarian case—ordering the immediate deployment of TMC teams to Mumbai to assist Bengal migrant workers detained by Maharashtra police, allegedly mistaken for Bangladeshi nationals.
BJP Counterattacks: Push for Voter Purge
Bengal BJP leaders Suvendu Adhikari and Samik Bhattacharya have doubled down, insisting that the SIR is essential to remove “illegal” voters, including alleged Rohingyas and undocumented Bangladeshi nationals.
“This isn’t a voter list revision—it’s a demographic weapon,” claimed a TMC strategist. “We’re watching history repeat itself.”
What’s Next: Is Bengal Headed for a Major Electoral Conflict?
With reports indicating that the Bengal SIR will begin by the end of August, and both TMC and BJP ramping up field efforts, the voter list revision could become the next major flashpoint before the 2026 Assembly elections.
As the battle lines harden, the coming weeks could define Bengal’s democratic landscape—not just for 2025, but for a generation.
