Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that more than 27 lakh names have been dropped from the voter list under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), including over 10 lakh Hindu Bengali names. He made the remarks at a public meeting in Natabari, Cooch Behar, while campaigning for the party's candidate.
According to Election Commission data, over 60 lakh names were placed under adjudication during the revision process. Of these, around 33 lakh names have been included in the updated voter list, while more than 27 lakh names have been removed.
Allegations over voter list revision
Addressing the rally, Banerjee claimed that many legitimate voters were excluded unfairly. He said, "Among those whose names have been illegally struck off, the 27 lakh names removed under the category of under adjudication, more than 10 lakh are Hindu Bengali names."
He further added, "I would request everyone, whichever community you belong to, this Bengal belongs to all. Regardless of party affiliation, Mamata Banerjee will restore everyone's fundamental rights and voting rights in the coming days. No one should be afraid or panicked. They could not stop us, even by blocking our money, they will not be able to stop us, even by cutting our names. They cannot intimidate us by branding us as Bangladeshis. Bengal does not know how to bow its head."
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Banerjee also referred to instances where individuals from Bengal were allegedly summoned by Foreigners Tribunals in Assam, raising concerns about voter rights and identity verification.
Abhishek Banerjee launches scathing attack on BJP
During his speech, Abhishek Banerjee targeted former BJP MP Nishith Pramanik and outgoing Natabari MLA Mihir Goswami. He alleged that Pramanik did not contribute to the development of Cooch Behar during his tenure.
He also criticised Goswami, saying he remained inaccessible to the public. "The BJP MLA was called the switch-off MLA. His mobile phone was always switched off. He only took pictures and survived in the media," Abhishek Banerjee said.
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Banerjee framed the upcoming election as a broader political contest, stating, "This time the fight is between injustice versus development, neglect versus respect, exploitation versus the spirit of never giving up."
The allegations come amid ongoing political debate over voter list revisions ahead of the Assembly elections.
