'Centre trying to snatch voting rights through SIR,' says Mamata

Targeting the BJP-led government at the Centre over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state ahead of the Assembly elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee on Saturday accused it of trying to "snatch away the voting rights" of people through the SIR.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo further alleged that the SIR exercise, which had led to the deletion of a large number of voters from the electoral rolls, was part of a "broader attempt" to influence the electoral process in the state.

‘Will fight till the end’

"We will not allow (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji to take away your voting rights. We will fight till the end to protect democracy and the rights of every citizen," said Banerjee. She was addressing a large gathering of worshippers after Eid prayers at Kolkata’s Red Road.

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Her remarks come amid an intensifying political row over the electoral roll revision exercise, which the TMC has repeatedly described as an attempt to remove names of genuine voters, particularly from minority-dominated areas, ahead of the polls.

Warns against disenfranchisement

The Chief Minister warned that any move to disenfranchise voters in the name of revision or verification of electoral rolls would be met with stiff resistance by her party. “Those who are targeting Bengal and trying to divide people should go to hell,” she said.

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The chief minister also invoked Bengal’s long tradition of communal harmony, saying that the state would not allow forces trying to polarise society to succeed.

What Abhishek Banerjee said

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who also addressed the gathering, echoed the chief minister’s attack on alleged attempts to polarise society and asserted that Bengal’s tradition of communal harmony would be protected.

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Political observers said the TMC’s messaging at the Eid congregation reflects a broader attempt to link the electoral roll scrutiny exercise with its campaign narrative that the "BJP and the Centre are trying to influence the upcoming polls".

BJP rejects charge

The ruling party has been projecting the issue as a potential threat to the voting rights of large sections of people, while the BJP has dismissed the allegation, asserting that the revision of electoral rolls is a routine exercise conducted by the Election Commission to remove duplicate and ineligible voters.

Against the backdrop of growing political friction over the voter list scrutiny, Banerjee’s remarks signal the TMC’s attempt to frame the upcoming elections as a battle to safeguard democratic rights and Bengal’s plural social fabric.

The elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in two phases - on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.

(With agency inputs)