TMC Turns Up the Heat on Election Commission Over Bengal’s SIR Drive

The Trinamool Congress intensified its criticism of the Election Commission on Saturday, accusing the poll body of using the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to unfairly target West Bengal. At a press briefing in New Delhi, TMC MP Sajda Ahmed painted a tense picture of the situation on the ground, saying fear and uncertainty were spreading across the state.

According to Ahmed, the party held a prolonged meeting with the Election Commission a day earlier, only to walk away without answers. "We asked five very clear questions," she said. "But there was complete silence from the Commission. That silence speaks volumes. Bengal is being singled out, and its people are worried."

She also raised alarm over the deaths of several Booth Level Officers, describing them as frontline workers pushed to breaking point. "These BLOs are operating under enormous pressure," Ahmed said. "Only with proper time, support, and protection will they be able to carry out their responsibilities with confidence."

Standing alongside her, TMC's Derek O'Brien delivered a stark statistic: 39 BLOs have reportedly died since the SIR began. He accused the Election Commission of ignoring repeated pleas from the TMC and failing to address what he called a growing humanitarian concern.

Election Commission Pushes Back

The Election Commission, however, has strongly denied the allegations. On Friday, it issued a firm statement, urging Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee not to "threaten or pressurise" officials and cautioning TMC leaders against spreading "misinformation" about the revision process.

In an attempt to strengthen oversight, the EC appointed retired IAS officer Subrata Gupta as Special Roll Observer for West Bengal and instructed state police chief Rajeev Kumar to ensure the safety of BLOs during the ongoing exercise.

The confrontation marks the latest flashpoint in the continuing tussle between the TMC and the Election Commission-a feud that has only deepened as the SIR unfolds in Bengal.