bjp-s-suvendu-dares-tmc-no-sir-no-election-in-bengal

The political debate over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, initiated in Bihar and now expected to be extended to other states, has intensified in West Bengal. While the ruling TMC has strongly opposed the exercise, the BJP has declared its firm support, with Leader of the Opposition in Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, declaring: “No SIR, no election.”

 

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly criticised the SIR process during her public rallies, alleging it is politically motivated. Echoing this position, TMC’s All India General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee went further, demanding that the “Delhi government should be dissolved and SIR should be conducted there.”

 

The TMC government has also moved court against the proposed revision drive. However, Justice Amrita Sinha questioned the party’s stance, asking why the TMC appeared “so upset or afraid about SIR.”

 

Adhikari, sharpening the opposition’s attack, accused the ruling party of trying to protect fake voters. He alleged, “TMC has been approaching the courts repeatedly to stall SIR. Earlier, MP Mahua Moitra went to court over SIR in Bihar. Later, the state government went to the Supreme Court and added itself as a party, even though it wasn’t involved. This shows they want to keep duplicate voters, dead voters and even Bangladeshi Muslims and Rohingyas on the rolls.”

 

Also read: Mamata launches ‘Shramashree’ scheme for migrant workers

 

Adhikari further alleged that the ruling party had facilitated fake voter IDs to enable multiple votes across districts. “They vote once in Cooch Behar, once in Malda, then in Diamond Harbour and finally in Bhawanipur. That is why they are obstructing the process,” he claimed.

 

The BJP leader pointed out that SIR was not a new exercise, noting that when it was conducted in West Bengal in 2002, as many as 26 lakh names were removed from the rolls.

 

“Our stand is simple: No SIR, no election. The more the TMC obstructs, the more SIR will be delayed. And everyone knows the consequences of that,” Adhikari warned.

 

The tenure of the current West Bengal government ends on May 4, 2026. The BJP has made SIR a key electoral issue, turning the revision of the voter list into the next flashpoint in Bengal’s high-stakes political battle.