Political Tension Grows in Bengal as Parties Clash Over Voter List Revision

Kolkata | November 24, 2025 A fresh political dispute has erupted in West Bengal as the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists reaches the state. While the BJP has welcomed the exercise, the Congress and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) have strongly criticised it, calling the process stressful, disorderly and harmful. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described the SIR drive as complete chaos, alleging that it has caused unnecessary pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs). He pointed to 16 reported BLO deaths in recent weeks across several states, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. Gandhi questioned the government’s priorities, saying the exercise was being run in a way that was unsafe and poorly planned. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also expressed concern, claiming the number of deaths might be higher than officially reported. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee wrote directly to the Election Commission, urging immediate intervention. In her letter, she said the ongoing process was unplanned and unclear, leaving voters confused and BLOs under intense pressure. She highlighted problems like poor training, lack of documentation clarity and the difficulty of meeting voters during their working hours. According to her, the exercise could seriously affect the accuracy and fairness of the state’s voter list. The TMC is holding a review meeting to assess the situation and ensure that no voter is left out. However, the issue has escalated further after the TMC accused BJP supporters of vandalising and burning a SIR assistance camp in Kalyani. A video of the damaged camp has been shared by the party, and a police inquiry is underway. On the other side, BJP leaders have countered the criticism. BJP spokesperson Ram Kadam questioned why Mamata Banerjee was opposed to the revision, alleging that she feared the removal of illegal residents from the voter list. He claimed that elections under Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be conducted with fairness and transparency, and accused the TMC of supporting infiltrators. Meanwhile, the state’s governor, CV Ananda Bose, has said that the recent suicide of a BLO, reportedly due to pressure from SIR work, must be examined carefully. He stressed that all concerns should be studied in detail, but the ultimate focus should remain on ensuring free and fair elections. The SIR exercise is currently being carried out across 12 states and union territories. The final updated voter list is scheduled to be released on February 7, 2026. Political Tension Grows in Bengal as Parties Clash Over Voter List Revision The voter list cleanup in Bengal has sparked a full-blown political fight, with parties trading allegations as the SIR exercise moves ahead. While the BJP says the revision is necessary for transparency, the Congress and TMC argue that the process is chaotic, stressful and harming BLOs on the ground. Rahul Gandhi has called the drive a deliberate attempt to pressure citizens and officials, highlighting multiple BLO deaths reported across states. Mamata Banerjee has also raised red flags, writing to the Election Commission and urging it to intervene before the situation worsens. Amid rising tension, the TMC is holding an internal review meeting to ensure no voter is left out, even as the party accuses BJP supporters of vandalising an SIR assistance camp in Kalyani. The BJP, meanwhile, is accusing the TMC of protecting infiltrators and trying to derail the process. With the final voter list due in early 2026, Bengal’s political atmosphere is heating up fast.