Mamata Banerjee Accuses Modi Government — In a strongly worded political outburst that reignited the debate on democratic fairness, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the Narendra Modi-led central government of “saffronising the voter rolls” across Bengal. She alleged that the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process has been hijacked to manipulate voter data in favor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of crucial elections.
Banerjee, known for her combative style, also resurrected her “Mir Jafar” taunt against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of conspiring with bureaucratic machinery to distort the democratic process. She warned the Centre to “stop playing with fire” and declared that Bengal would not tolerate any attempt to disenfranchise minorities or alter electoral demographics through biased deletions.
A Fiery Allegation: “Complete Saffronisation of Electoral Rolls”
The Chief Minister’s statement came amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision — a routine voter list verification exercise directed by the Election Commission of India (ECI). However, according to Banerjee, the exercise has been “converted into a political weapon.”
“Complete saffronisation of electoral rolls is going on in Bengal,” she alleged, claiming that government officials were being coerced under the pretext of data verification.
She further stated that the EC was “summoning officers and interfering in administration” even though no election is currently scheduled. “Only during election periods does the administration come under EC control,” she said, accusing the central government of “creating pressure through bureaucratic channels.”
Banerjee’s accusation targets what she describes as the “invisible hand” of the BJP, which she claims has been systematically using constitutional institutions to consolidate power.
Background: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and Its Political Weight
The Special Intensive Revision is intended to streamline voter lists by removing duplicates and updating information. However, the timing and scale of the exercise in West Bengal have drawn scrutiny.
The EC has ordered state officials to start groundwork within seven days — a tight deadline that Banerjee says was imposed “without consultation or consideration.” She argues that such an abrupt directive risks large-scale errors and deletions, especially among marginalized voters.
Her allegations come in the wake of statements made by BJP leaders, including Union Minister Shantanu Thakur, who reportedly said that “one crore names will be deleted” from Bengal’s electoral rolls. Banerjee demanded the minister’s removal for this remark, calling it a “direct admission of conspiracy.”
“Either sack the minister who said this, or admit that there is a plot to alter Bengal’s voter base,” Mamata declared, calling the situation a “deliberate act of demographic engineering.”
Targeting the Chief Electoral Officer: “He Is Threatening Officials”
The Chief Minister’s attack also extended to West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal, who she accused of “harassing district officials.” She claimed Agarwal had been removed from a previous post in 2018 when he filed an FIR regarding irregularities in the public distribution system (PDS).
“He will not overreact; he is threatening officials. What is his business calling officers now? There is no election going on,” she said.
This statement has widened the rift between the state government and the Election Commission, exposing a simmering power struggle over administrative jurisdiction and bureaucratic loyalty.
Opposition Strikes Back: BJP Defends EC, Accuses Mamata of Hypocrisy
While Banerjee accused the Centre of rigging the rolls, the BJP swiftly countered her claims. Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, argued that the voter list expansion itself was evidence of illegal infiltration, not deletion.
Adhikari pointed out that over 100 constituencies in Bengal saw voter growth between 20 and 30 percent, compared to a national average of around 7 percent.
“Rajarhat–New Town has seen a 28% increase, Domkal 30%, Jalangi 27%. These are not normal figures. The voter lists have been inflated with names of infiltrators,” Adhikari said.
He also claimed that 13 lakh Aadhaar cards were canceled across the state and that over 29 lakh voter names were removed after being identified as duplicates.
The BJP, meanwhile, accused Mamata of trying to “distract from corruption scandals” and said her allegations were part of a “calculated narrative to attack institutions.”
Mamata’s Counter-Narrative: A Fight for Bengal’s Democratic Soul
Banerjee framed the controversy as a fight to protect Bengal’s secular and democratic character. According to her, the central government’s moves echo what happened in Assam, where the National Register of Citizens (NRC) left thousands of citizens stateless.
She warned that Assam’s “foreigner tribunals” were now sending notices to Bengal residents — a development she says hints at coordinated federal interference.
“The way they are going, the next step will be NRC in Bengal. I will never allow that. Bengal belongs to all — Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, tribal, everyone,” she asserted.
This statement reinforces Banerjee’s long-standing resistance to NRC and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) — both of which she describes as “anti-constitutional tools for voter division.”
“Mir Jafar” Returns: Reviving Historical Symbolism Against Amit Shah
Mamata’s use of the term “Mir Jafar” — referring to the historic figure who betrayed Bengal’s Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah during British colonization — is not new. She has previously used the epithet for Amit Shah, equating the Union Home Minister to “a betrayer of Bengal’s freedom.”
“The Mir Jafars think they can rule Bengal through lies and force. They will not succeed,” she thundered.
By invoking this imagery again, Banerjee tapped into Bengal’s deep historical consciousness — linking contemporary political struggle with the colonial past. Analysts say the “Mir Jafar” label has become her rhetorical weapon to delegitimize the BJP’s political presence as “outsiders manipulating Bengal’s destiny.”
Analysts Weigh In: Electoral Manipulation or Political Posturing?
Political analysts suggest that Banerjee’s charge of saffronisation may serve both as a warning and a political strategy.
- For the EC: It signals that any irregularity will be met with political backlash and legal scrutiny.
- For Voters: It reinforces Banerjee’s image as the defender of Bengal’s pluralism.
- For the Opposition: It forces BJP leaders to respond defensively, keeping them on the back foot.
Political expert Biswanath Chakraborty notes, “This is about narrative control. By alleging saffronisation, Mamata positions herself as a guardian of democracy and minority rights — key themes in Bengal politics.”
What the Data Suggests: Voter Deletions, Additions, and Missing Demographics
Recent independent studies highlight irregularities in voter roll management nationwide. According to political researcher Yogendra Yadav, around six lakh Muslim voters and 16 lakh women voters were found missing from electoral lists in previous revisions across India.
While these figures are not Bengal-specific, Banerjee has cited them to suggest a broader national trend of “selective deletion.” She demanded that the Election Commission publicly release data on additions, deletions, and rejected applications during the current SIR.
“Let them show the data. Whose names are being deleted? Why are minority-dominated districts under maximum scrutiny?” she asked.
The Stakes Ahead: 2026 Assembly Elections and Beyond
The controversy over voter rolls comes just as Bengal gears up for the 2026 Assembly elections. With the BJP attempting to expand its base and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) fighting to retain dominance, control over voter registration has become politically explosive.
Banerjee’s strategy seems clear — to frame the upcoming election as a “battle for democracy”, similar to her 2021 campaign against the BJP’s “Delhi bulldozer politics.”
Observers believe this is also a pre-emptive strike to delegitimize any future EC decisions that could disadvantage the TMC, including constituency delimitations, deletions, or central monitoring.
Mamata Banerjee Accuses Modi Government: Democratic Integrity at Crossroads
The escalating dispute between the state and the EC raises serious questions about India’s federal balance and electoral credibility. If the SIR process is perceived as biased or exclusionary, it could erode faith in democratic institutions.
Civil rights groups have called for independent oversight, digital transparency, and public grievance mechanisms to ensure fair roll revision. A non-partisan monitoring system, they argue, is essential to prevent disenfranchisement of genuine voters — especially those from rural, poor, and minority backgrounds.
“The sanctity of the voter roll is the foundation of democracy,” said constitutional lawyer Indira Jaising in a recent commentary. “Tampering or selective deletion strikes at the heart of citizen equality.”
Mamata’s Defiance: “We Will Guard Every Vote”
In her closing remarks, Banerjee reiterated her party’s readiness to “guard every voter and every name.” She instructed Trinamool workers across all districts to conduct parallel verification drives to ensure no legitimate citizen is left out.
“Bengal will not bow. We will guard every vote like we guard our freedom,” she declared.
Her words signal that the Trinamool Congress is preparing for a long battle — one that could define not only Bengal’s political future but also test the resilience of India’s electoral system.
For official Election Commission updates and voter roll revision schedules, visit the Election Commission of India’s official portal.
For in-depth background on citizenship debates and voter roll controversies in India, explore PRS Legislative Research’s electoral database and National Voters’ Service Portal.
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