Abhishek Banerjee, national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, on Wednesday shared a startling WhatsApp exchange on his X handle, alleging that the Election Commission of India is flouting norms laid down by the Supreme Court.
Banerjee posted screenshots from a WhatsApp group titled "ERMO South 24 Pgs," which appeared to show the EC's Special Roll Observer issuing instructions related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise through the messaging platform. He claimed this raised serious questions about procedural transparency and compliance with the court's directions.
Abhishek Banerjee drops fresh bombshell
On his X handle, Abhishek Banerjee posted screenshots of a WhatsApp group, allegedly comprising officials and those involved in the SIR exercise in West Bengal. The screenshots showed that official directives were being sent out through WhatsApp, which is not in accordance with the norms set by the nation's apex court. Abhishek Banerjee wrote, "Is the @ECISVEEP of the view that directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court can be openly FLOUTED? The highest Court of the land has repeatedly emphasised transparency, due process, and adherence to official channels of communication. Yet we are witnessing instructions being circulated over WhatsApp rather than through formal, traceable, and accountable mechanisms."
Banerjee also highlighted that the chat shows the Special Roll Observer of the Election Commission issuing directions to the micro-observers regarding the acceptability of birth certificates in SIR, which goes against the direction given to the ECI by the Supreme Court, that micro-observers are meant to play assistive roles, and cannot include or delete names. "Even more disturbing are credible reports of Special Roll Observer, C. Murugan, issuing instructions regarding the acceptability of birth certificates directly to Micro Observers in a WhatsApp group, to inflate deletion numbers. Need I remind the ECI of the Supreme Court’s categorical directive that the role of micro-observers must remain strictly assistive? Why, then, is statutory procedure being bypassed, and under whose instructions?" he added.
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Abhishek Banerjee went on to write, "Additionally, Roll Observers are designated district-wise, yet it is seen that login credentials linked to these observers are being accessed from a central location in Kolkata." The MP alleged the misuse of login data for specific 'targeting' of people. "Login Data is being misused to generate queries and specifically target a certain community at the direction of ECI’s political masters in Delhi. Should this matter be independently examined, it will be established that the tower location and IP address of the login device differ from the actual location of the concerned roll observer."
Abhishek Banerjee also said that the matter will be taken up with the Supreme Court. "The Election Commission derives its legitimacy from PUBLIC TRUST, not POLITICAL PATRONAGE. We shall pursue this matter before the highest court of law. Further, any person aligning themselves with or acting at the behest of Zamindars of Delhi will face stringent and uncompromising legal action. Brace yourselves!," the post concluded.
Is the @ECISVEEP of the view that directions of the Honble Supreme Court can be openly FLOUTED? The highest Court of the land has repeatedly emphasised transparency, due process, and adherence to official channels of communication. Yet we are witnessing instructions being pic.twitter.com/YVtwkK8p5m
Âť Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) February 18, 2026
What directives did the Supreme Court give?
In January 2026, the Supreme Court had directed the Election Commission of India to stop relying on informal WhatsApp communications for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and to use formal, written orders instead. The top court has questioned the poll body, why instructions were being issued via WhatsApp rather than official circulars, saying a proper circular 'has to be issued' in place of messages sent over messaging apps, especially in a process as important and sensitive as voter revision, The Economic Times reported.
The Supreme Court of India had also clarified that micro-observers deployed in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal are only meant to assist Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant EROs, and do not have the authority to include or exclude names from the electoral rolls. The court made this clear while directing that final decisions on voter scrutiny must remain with officers empowered under electoral law, reinforcing that micro-observers' role is limited to support and monitoring in the process.
