Page 2 - West Bengal

CM Mamata urges CEC to halt 'arbitrary, flawed' SIR in West Bengal

Sharpening her attack on the Election Commission, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged CEC Gyanesh Kumar to halt the "arbitrary and flawed" SIR in the state, warning that its continuation in the present form could trigger "mass disenfranchisement" and "strike at the foundations of democracy". In a strongly worded letter dated December 3, Banerjee accused the commission of presiding over what she described as an "unplanned, ill-prepared and ad hoc" process marked by "serious irregularities, procedural violations, and administrative lapses". She asserted that the situation on the ground had worsened despite her two earlier communications to the chief election commissioner (CEC). "I am once again constrained to write to you in order to place on record my grave concern," Banerjee wrote, recalling that she had flagged similar issues in letters dated November 20 and December 2. "Regrettably, instead of any corrective course being adopted, the situation on the ground has only

EC orders FIRs against five poll officials over roll lapses in Bengal

The Election Commission directed the registration of FIRs against five poll officials for alleged irregularities in the distribution and collection of enumeration forms during the ongoing special revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, an official said on Saturday. These officials are two Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), two Assistant Registration Officers (AROs) and a data entry operator, he said. "We have identified five state government employees, two from Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district and three from Moyna in Purba Medinipur, against whom FIRs will be filed for alleged procedural lapses in the revision exercise," he said. "The district magistrates have been asked to lodge cases and submit reports promptly," he added. Meanwhile, the EC has scaled down the logical discrepancy cases from over 1.3 crore to nearly 94.49 lakh after a thorough evaluation of the list, an official said. In the draft rolls, published on December 16, around 1.36 crore entries were flagged for .

BJP to launch 'Choreder Panchali' to counter TMC's poll pitch in Bengal

West Bengal's Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday said the BJP will roll out 'Chorder Panchali' tableaux across his Purba Medinipur district to make the people aware of the alleged misdeeds of the Trinamool Congress government. Adhikari alleged the 'Unnayaner Panchali' (chronicles of development) campaign launched by the TMC government were spreading lies about the Narendra Modi government and the opposition parties in the state. "Though people can now see through the deceit of Trinamool Congress, still, the BJP needs to counter the campaign and make people see the real truth. From tomorrow, we will roll out 'Choreder Panchali' (tales of theft) tableaux across Purba Medinipur, including Nandigram," he told reporters on the sidelines of a rally in his constituency. Addressing the rally, Adhikari alleged the Hindus of Nandigram were living in fear of "jihadi elements" sheltered by the ruling party. "What happens when Hindus fail to unite can be clearly seen across t

Bengal polls: TMC's Abhishek vows ₹300 daily wage for tea garden workers

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday sought to reclaim political ground in north Bengal by promising a sharp hike in daily wages of tea garden workers, placing labour welfare at the centre of the party's pitch for the 2026 Assembly elections in a tea belt that has largely tilted towards the BJP since 2019. Addressing a rally-cum-interaction with tea garden workers in Alipurduar, Banerjee said that if the TMC returns to power for a fourth consecutive term, the daily wage of tea workers would be raised to Rs 300 after a tripartite meeting involving the state government, garden owners and workers' representatives. "Daily wages of Rs 250 are not enough to run a household given the rise in prices. I give you my word -- within 30 days of the next government being formed, a tripartite meeting will be held, and within seven days of that, the process to ensure Rs 300 daily wages will begin," Banerjee said, responding to questions from workers. The assurance followed .

Bengal SIR: Parties submit 8 claims, objections to include eligible voters

In its daily bulletin, the CEO's office detailed that the period for claims and objections from political parties was from December 17 to December 31, 2025

Bengal polls: Shah outlines BJP's roadmap, projects Dilip Ghosh as key face

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday outlined an action plan for the BJP's West Bengal unit while reviewing its preparedness for the assembly polls due early next year. Addressing the party's public representatives, both past and present, Shah sought to project a unified front, while indicating former state president Dilip Ghosh as one of the main faces of the saffron camp for the elections. Ghosh, who has largely stayed away from the forefront of the BJP's activities in the state over the past several months, was also invited to the closed-door meeting attended by the party's MPs, MLAs, civic body councillors and organisational portfolio holders. Shah held the meeting to take stock of the BJP West Bengal unit's preparedness for the assembly polls next year. He reportedly held a separate meeting with Ghosh, alongside another former state president Sukanta Majumdar, incumbent Samik Bhattacharya, and the state's leader of the opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, indicating bridging of

Amit Shah chairs meeting of BJP MLAs, MPs in Kolkata ahead of 2026 polls

Amit Shah is visiting the state and holding a series of meetings with party leaders as part of the BJP's organisational outreach

West Bengal in 2025: SIR, identity politics, cross-border unrest shape year

As West Bengal edged closer to the assembly polls due next year, 2025 unfolded as a year in which the mechanics of voting, border anxieties and sharpening communal lines eclipsed governance, turning the SIR of electoral rolls and cross-border unrest into the state's defining political battlegrounds. If the Lok Sabha elections verdict of 2024 fixed the poll arithmetic, the politics of 2025 fixed the mood. A steady undercurrent through the year was the spillover from neighbouring Bangladesh. Political instability and reports of communal violence across the border, including attacks on minorities and the killing of a Hindu man, fed directly into Bengal's political discourse. At home, the detention and pushback of Bengali-speaking migrant labourers from BJP-ruled states like Odisha, Assam, Delhi, Maharashtra and Gujarat on suspicion of being Bangladeshis ignited a political firestorm in West Bengal. With the 2026 polls approaching, the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC went on the offensive, ...

TMC hits back at Amit Shah, says BJP won't cross 50 seats in Bengal polls

The Trinamool Congress on Tuesday hit back at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of peddling falsehoods and making baseless claims about securing a two-thirds majority in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Senior TMC leader and state education minister Bratya Basu told reporters that Shah's remarks were based on hollow assertions and claimed that the BJP would not even cross the 50-seat mark in the polls. "Shah will keep coming and going like a tourist. Such visits will serve no purpose," Basu said on the sidelines of a programme. "The BJP will not even cross the 50-mark in the assembly polls and suffer a humiliating defeat," Basu claimed. Addressing a press conference here, Shah claimed that the BJP would form the next government in the state with a "two-thirds majority in 2026". "We will not only identify infiltrators, but we'll also drive them out. Bengal will have a new BJP government after April 15, 2026, as people have made up their minds," he said. TMC ...

Shah to hold series of organisational meetings on 2nd day of Bengal visit

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will hold a series of meetings with party leaders in Kolkata on Tuesday, with barely a few months left for the assembly elections in West Bengal. Shah reached the city on Monday on a three-day visit. He is scheduled to hold back-to-back closed-door meetings with the BJP's MLAs and MPs, besides representatives in various civic bodies, a leader said. He is also expected to meet the top brass of the RSS in the state. He is also scheduled to address a press conference during the day. After his arrival on Monday, Shah held a meeting at the BJP office in Salt Lake to take stock of the party's organisational preparedness for the upcoming polls. His visit is focused on setting the BJP's tone and tenor for the upcoming elections, party leaders said.

I am secular in true sense, appeasement charge is wrong: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday rejected allegations of indulging in appeasement, asserting that she is "secular in the true sense" and participates in programmes across faiths without discrimination. She was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Durga Angan', a cultural complex dedicated to Goddess Durga, at New Town in Kolkata. People accuse me of indulging in appeasement, but it is not correct. I am secular in the true sense, she said, adding that she attends programmes of all religions. The Trinamool Congress chief did not identify the accuser, but the opposition BJP often charges her with appeasing the Muslims. You do not say anything when I visit a gurdwara, but start criticising me when I attend an Eid programme, Banerjee said. Banerjee also flagged concerns over the ongoing SIR process, alleging harassment of people and loss of lives. People are being harassed unnecessarily. Over 50 lives have been lost within a month during the SIR proc

Bengal SIR hearings disrupted in Hooghly after TMC MLA stages protest

SIR hearings at Chinsurah-Mogra block office in West Bengal's Hooghly district were halted for some time on Monday after TMC MLA Asit Mazumdar objected to the exclusion of booth-level agents (BLAs) during the process, officials said. The hearings, which are being conducted at the block office for three assembly constituencies, were stopped after Mazumdar insisted that BLAs be allowed to remain present during the process. He demanded that officials either permit BLAs to attend the hearings or give in writing that they would not be allowed. "Unless BLAs are allowed or officials give in writing that they will not be allowed, we will not allow the hearings," Mazumdar told reporters, following which the entry and exit gates of the block office were closed, preventing people from entering the premises. As per Election Commission guidelines, BLAs are not permitted to be present during such hearings. Later, Mazumdar toned down his stand and allowed the hearings to resume, citing humanitar

Kapil Sibal criticises govt over deaths of 33 BLOs during SIR exercise

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal took a swipe at the government on Monday over the death of booth-level officers in various parts of the country engaged in the SIR exercise, asking whether the presence of one alleged "infiltrator" was not okay, but the death of BLOs was okay. Sibal's remarks came a day after a Booth Level Officer (BLO) was found dead in West Bengal's Bankura district, triggering allegations that work-related pressure linked to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls may have played a role. "Yet another suicide by a Bengal BLO. Total pan-India: 33. If one alleged 'ghuspetia (infiltrator)', that's not OK, if 33 BLOs die, is that Ok?" Sibal said in a post on X. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said last month that the government would throw out infiltrators from the country and alleged that some political parties are opposing the SIR exercise as they want the names of infiltrators to remain on the electoral rolls. The latest death of a BLO occurred in t

Beyond legacy, towards power as heirs vie for votes in state elections

Across southern and eastern India, upcoming Assembly elections place the spotlight on political heirs looking to translate legacy, governance and organisation into votes

Abhishek Banerjee to launch 21-day campaign against SIR in Bengal

Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhhishek Banerjee will launch a 21-day campaign from January 2 to 22 to ensure that not a single legitimate voter's name is struck off the final rolls for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, the party said on Friday. "From January 2, 2026, Abhishek Banerjee will take to the streets and stand among the people to ensure that no legitimate voter is disenfranchised, and no Bengali is humiliated, intimidated, or harassed by the BJP-EC combine," the party said in a statement in its official WhatsApp group. Banerjee will start the campaign in South 24 Parganas where his Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency is situated, and will then move to Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts on January 3. He will also visit Uttar Dinajpur, Malda, Kolkata, Hooghly, and other districts including Krishnanagar, Midnapore, Kanthi, Bongaon, and Ranaghat, concluding the campaign on January 22 in Hooghly. On Friday, Banerjee launched a month-long 'connect and

Reveal Bangladeshis, Rohingyas out of 5.82 million deleted voters: Abhishek

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday said that the Election Commission must come out with the number of illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas out of the 58.20 lakh names deleted after the publication of draft electoral rolls in West Bengal under the ongoing SIR. Alleging that Bengal was being targeted selectively by the Centre since the TMC won the 2021 assembly polls in the state, he claimed that the "agenda is to harass the people of the state". The Trinamool Congress national general secretary also said that Bengal's population is 10.05 crore, and the number of voter deletions in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise is 58.20 lakh. "This is just 5.79 per cent of the population, the lowest among all the states where SIR is being held," Banerjee said while addressing a press conference here. He demanded that the "ECI come out with the number of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas out of 58.20 lakh names deleted".

TMC says EC deleted lakhs of voters in West Bengal to benefit BJP

The Trinamool Congress on Saturday accused the Election Commission (EC) of deleting the names of lakhs of legitimate voters from the electoral rolls under the SIR exercise to help the BJP ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls. A TMC delegation consisting of ministers Chandrima Bhattacharya, Sashi Panja, Aroop Biswas, Manas Bhuniya, Malay Ghatak met Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal at his office and submitted a memorandum listing their grievances. "We are seeing different sets of rules and practices being applied in Bengal compared to other states. In the name of cross-checking absent, shifted and duplicate' voters, the EC has omitted around 58 lakh genuine voters by branding them as unmapped'," Bhattacharya told reporters after the meeting. She alleged that the action seems to be part of the bigger gameplan to delete two crore voters' names from the electoral rolls in order to punish the people of the state for rejecting the BJP repeatedly. Biswas alleged that the mobil

SIR hearings to begin today in Bengal; 320K unmapped voters to be covered

The hearings under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in West Bengal will commence on Saturday, with 3,234 centres set up across the state, a senior official said. Around 32 lakh "unmapped" voters, those who are unable to establish linkage with the 2002 electoral roll, will be called for hearings in the first phase, he said. Voters will be allowed to submit any of 12 recognised documents, including Aadhaar, as proof of identity and address, the official at the office of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said on Friday. However, the commission has clarified that the Aadhaar card will not be accepted as a standalone document. "Electoral lists prepared during the recent SIR exercise in Bihar will also be considered valid documents. However, submission of fake or forged documents will be treated as a punishable offence," the official warned. State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal said all preparations for the hearings have been completed. "Th

West Bengal SIR: No large-scale impact on Muslim-dominated districts

Largest voter removal in West Bengal in at least a decade

Messi event chaos: Calcutta HC refuses to interfere in SIT investigation

The Calcutta High Court refused to interfere at this stage in a probe being conducted by a special investigation team (SIT) over chaos during Argentine football legend Lionel Messi's event at Salt Lake stadium here on December 13. A division bench presided by Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul held that the investigation and enquiry in the case is in the preliminary stage and no material could be placed before it to establish that "investigation/enquiry is vitiated or polluted". The petitioners in three PILs sought transfer of the investigation into the incident to CBI as well as the refund of ticket prices to the spectators, a section of whom had gone on a rampage over not being able to see their favourite star and early conclusion of the event following a messy situation on the ground. Some people were seen jostling around Messi, thus blocking the view of those seated on the stands. Rejecting a prayer for interim relief on the matter, the court said that at this stage, it is not ...