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Bengal SIR Row Decoded: Why Mamata Banerjee Is Launching Dharna Against EC Ahead Of Polls

| Mar 06, 2026, 04:55:52 PM | TOI.in
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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a dharna on March 6 against the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, calling the process “Democratic Rights in Danger” and warning that the democratic rights of citizens are at risk. The protest comes amid controversy over mass voter deletions and pending adjudications, including in her own Bhabanipur constituency, where thousands of voters’ names have been deleted or placed under review. Mamata also handed over appointment letters to families of Home Guard jawans who lost their lives during the SIR process, highlighting the human cost of the voter verification exercise.Earlier, Mamata appeared in person before a Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, challenging the legality of the SIR exercise. She claimed that the Election Commission was targeting West Bengal, as micro-observers were not appointed in other states, prompting the Court to issue a notice to the ECI. Meanwhile, the Election Commission is set to review poll preparedness in the state, with a full bench led by CEC Gyanesh Kumar likely to visit West Bengal on March 8. The SIR draft rolls released in December 2025 show over 58 lakh electors deleted, alongside irregularities such as gender bias, unusually high young deaths, and disproportionate deletions in certain communities.Opposition parties, including the Congress and CPI(M), have also raised concerns over the SIR process. The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee submitted a memorandum to the ECI demanding re-verification of Form 6 (voter additions) and Form 7 (voter deletions), warning that the process could affect the electoral balance and threaten the democratic rights of voters.The March 6 dharna is shaping up to be a major flashpoint in Bengal’s electoral battle, raising questions about voter rights, election integrity, and the fairness of the SIR process ahead of upcoming polls.

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