West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written a fresh letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, raising what she described as two “disturbing yet urgent developments” related to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. Her letter comes days after she earlier expressed concerns over the same exercise.
The SIR process has triggered a major political confrontation between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), especially following the reported deaths of several booth-level officers (BLOs) working across multiple states, including Bengal. The TMC has accused the Election Commission of acting to “appease a political party”, while the BJP has alleged that Banerjee fears the removal of “infiltrators” from the voter list.
What Mamata Banerjee Raised in Her Letter
In her latest communication, Banerjee highlighted two core concerns regarding the Commission’s approach to the SIR process.
1. Alleged move to outsource data-entry operations
Banerjee said she was concerned about an alleged directive to stop using contractual data-entry operators and Bangla Sahayata Kendra (BSK) personnel for election-related work.
She noted that the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, had instead issued a Request for Proposal (RfP) to outsource the hiring of 1,000 data-entry operators and 50 software developers for an entire year.
She questioned the necessity of outsourcing when district offices already have trained staff:
“When district offices already have a substantial number of competent professionals performing such functions, what necessitates the CEO’s initiative to outsource the same work through an external agency for a full year?”
Banerjee further asked whether this exercise was being conducted “at the behest of a political party to serve vested interests.”
2. Proposal to set up polling stations in private residential complexes
Banerjee’s second concern relates to reports that the Commission is considering the establishment of polling stations inside private residential complexes.
Calling the move “deeply problematic”, she argued that such locations could:
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Compromise fairness,
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Violate established electoral norms, and
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Create distinctions between “privileged residents and the general public”—the “haves and have-nots”.
She again questioned whether the proposal was being advanced under pressure from any political entity.
Banerjee urged the Election Commission to thoroughly examine the issues:
“The dignity, neutrality, and credibility of the Commission must remain above reproach and not be compromised under any circumstances.”
TMC vs BJP Over Bengal’s SIR Exercise
The SIR process continues to fuel political tension in West Bengal. Banerjee has previously described it as “unplanned, chaotic, and dangerous.”
On the other hand, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has accused the chief minister of attempting to protect her “vote bank of ineligible and illegal elements”, escalating the ongoing war of words between the two parties.
As the scrutiny of electoral rolls intensifies, the Election Commission is yet to respond to Banerjee’s latest concerns.
