Mamata Banerjee Accuses Election Commission of Threatening Bengal Officials Amid Rising Tensions Over Electoral Roll Revision

PTI, Kolkata, October 9, 2025 : In a fiery address on Wednesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a strong attack on the Election Commission (EC), accusing its officials of "threatening" state government officers and operating under "political influence." Her comments came just ahead of the state's assembly elections, which are scheduled for next year, and amid growing political tensions surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Mamata, speaking at a press conference in the state secretariat 'Nabanna', expressed her frustration with the actions of EC officials, questioning how they could summon state officers before the official announcement of election dates. "Election dates are yet to be announced in Bengal; how can EC officials visiting the state summon government officers?" she demanded. The Chief Minister's comments appear to be directed at West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Agarwal, whom she accused of corruption and of being part of a conspiracy to "cut votes" under the pretext of the SIR process.

Referring to Agarwal, Mamata claimed that the EC official faced multiple allegations of corruption and had been appointing other corrupt officers for the SIR exercise. She also hinted at having evidence to support these allegations, warning, "I hope he will not betray the country and democracy."

The Chief Minister further alleged that the SIR process was being misused as a cover for a National Register of Citizens (NRC)-type exercise in West Bengal, aiming to disenfranchise voters, particularly among the poor and minority communities. "The BJP is playing with fire in the name of SIR," Mamata said, intensifying her attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She added, "They use every agency for politics, not for public service. They are communalizing everything, from education to culture and festivals."

Mamata's criticism comes after Union Minister Shantanu Thakur, a prominent leader of the Matua community, reportedly stated that "1.5 crore voters will be removed immediately" following the SIR exercise. Mamata raised concerns over how such a statement could be made even before the electoral roll verification process had begun, demanding answers from the Election Commission about its impartiality.

The TMC (Trinamool Congress) has repeatedly described the SIR as a political maneuver by the BJP to undermine the state's electorate and secure an advantage in the upcoming 2026 assembly polls. Mamata warned that any tampering with the voters' list would be seen as "a betrayal of democracy," reiterating her firm stance on protecting the integrity of the electoral process.

This public confrontation between the West Bengal Chief Minister and the Election Commission has escalated the political tensions in the state, as preparations for next year's polls continue. Mamata’s declaration that she would not "tolerate" threats to state officers suggests a significant escalation in her standoff with the EC and the BJP. "If the BJP doesn't stop playing with fire, the fire will engulf them politically," she asserted, signaling her readiness to take on the central government in the lead-up to the elections.

The row between Mamata and the Election Commission is likely to dominate political discourse in the coming weeks as both parties continue to position themselves ahead of the crucial 2026 assembly elections.