West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has accused former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of ordering the deletion of 27 lakh names from the state’s electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Adhikari stated that the deletions were carried out following judicial orders based on Supreme Court directions in a case filed by Banerjee herself. He denied any involvement by the BJP or the Election Commission in the matter.

The Election Commission has confirmed that 22.21 lakh of the deleted voters have filed appeals seeking restoration of their names. In total, over 38 lakh appeals have been submitted against both exclusions and inclusions during the SIR process. The Commission has maintained that its final decisions on the exercise were unanimous, though internal disagreements have been reported.

The SIR exercise has become a major political issue in Bengal, with the TMC alleging that genuine voters were removed from the rolls. Adhikari, meanwhile, has sought to contrast Bengal with Kerala, where the revision process has also taken place. He claimed that if SIR is considered acceptable in Kerala, it should not be viewed negatively in West Bengal, given the TMC’s current electoral defeat.

Adhikari’s comments followed a rally address by Banerjee in Serampore, where she renewed her criticism of the Election Commission and the BJP over the voter-roll revision. He also referenced a meeting between Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and other election commissioners, suggesting that decisions on Bengal’s SIR were not made solely by the CEC. However, the Election Commission has not provided a formal response to these claims.

The issue has drawn scrutiny of the functioning of the three-member Election Commission. An Indian Express investigation reported that two election commissioners had raised objections over several decisions linked to the SIR exercise. The Commission has stated that internal disagreements are normal and that its final decisions were unanimous. However, the exact nature of these disagreements and their impact on the SIR process remain unclear.

No official response from the TMC or the Election Commission has been provided to Adhikari’s allegations. The TMC has not commented on the claim that Banerjee ordered the deletions, nor has the Election Commission clarified its role in the process. The number of affected voters and the exact criteria used for deletion remain unverified.