As uncertainty grows over the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in West Bengal within the scheduled deadline, Bharatiya Janata Party state president Samik Bhattacharya insisted that elections should not be held until the process is finished.
Although the revision was targeted for completion by February 7, Election Commission sources indicate that the work is still incomplete. With the Commission seeking more time, the publication of the final voter list on February 14 also appears unlikely.
Against this backdrop, Bhattacharya made his party’s stand clear, saying, “No SIR, no vote. The elections must be held only after the SIR is completed.”
He also urged Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to visit the state, adding, “I say again, please come to Kolkata. See West Bengal for yourself.”
The BJP leader said the party was not interested in debates over who added or removed names from the rolls, but stressed the need for a corrected voter list. “The Form-7 that we were unable to submit must be submitted. Providing the people of Bengal with an error-free voter list falls within the responsibility and accountability of the Election Commission. We hope the Commission will fulfill that responsibility,” he said.
Bhattacharya’s comments come as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court with allegations against the Election Commission over the SIR process. The matter is scheduled to be heard by a three-judge bench on Monday.
Dismissing the Chief Minister’s petition, Bhattacharya said the BJP was not interested in the case. “They are trying to spoil the entire process. Their goal is to hold elections with the old voter list filled with Rohingyas,” he alleged.
Citing irregularities, he also raised concerns over passport verifications and claimed that a “racket” was operating in the state. Using a sarcastic analogy, he said, “In the Mahabharata, there was one Dhritarashtra. In Bengal’s voter list, there are many— each with a hundred children. Some have become grandfathers at 40, while their grandsons are 22-year-old voters. This is only possible in this state.”
The Election Commission has yet to issue a fresh timeline for the completion of the SIR.
Also read: Misuse of SIR to target SP-won booths: Akhilesh
Follow us
