Mamata Banerjee Denies Media Reports, Says She Won't Fill SIR Form Until Everyone in West Bengal Does

KalimNews, Kolkata, November 6, 2025 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Thursday, made it clear that she would not fill out the enumeration form (EF) as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls unless every resident of the state completes the process first. In a social media post, Banerjee asserted, "I will not fill the forms until every person in West Bengal finishes filling up their forms." Her statement came in the wake of media reports suggesting that she had personally received the form from a Booth Level Officer (BLO) during the revision exercise.

A day after the BLO visited her official residence, Banerjee took to social media to refute claims made by certain sections of the media, stating that she had stepped out and accepted the enumeration form in person. The Chief Minister labeled these reports as “completely false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt at spreading misinformation.” Banerjee clarified that the BLO had merely visited her residence to inquire about the number of voters on the premises and handed over the forms, without any personal interaction outside the office.

In her social media post, Banerjee explained, “A BLO had come to our area yesterday in discharge of his electoral duties. He came to the office at my residence, enquired about the number of voters in the premises, and handed over forms.” She further emphasized that no form was personally accepted by her, refuting all claims made by the media.

The Chief Minister’s reaction comes amid ongoing political discourse surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), a process initiated by the Election Commission (EC) to update voter rolls ahead of the next round of elections in West Bengal. As part of the SIR, BLOs are tasked with visiting households and verifying voter details. These forms are being distributed to confirm voter lists based on the 2002 rolls.

The SIR process has faced scrutiny and protests from various political parties, with allegations of irregularities and concerns regarding the accuracy of voter lists. Banerjee has been vocal in her opposition to the method of revision and has expressed her dissatisfaction with how the process is being conducted. The issue has been further complicated by the fact that some areas have reported discrepancies in the voter list, leading to confusion among residents.

On the other hand, the opposition has accused Banerjee’s government of not fully cooperating with the SIR process and raising unnecessary doubts over its integrity. These accusations, however, have been dismissed by the Chief Minister as politically motivated attempts to discredit the process and divert attention from the alleged shortcomings in governance.

Simultaneously, as part of the SIR, the Election Commission has announced plans to use the state government’s 'Somobyathi' scheme database to identify deceased voters. The scheme, which offers financial assistance for the last rites of deceased persons from underprivileged families, has a comprehensive record of deaths across districts. The EC intends to cross-reference this database with voter rolls to remove deceased names from the list.

The process has faced challenges, with several voters raising questions about the timing of the SIR and its implications. Booth-level officers are reportedly receiving numerous queries from concerned residents, including questions on how voters abroad can be enumerated or what would happen to those born after 2002. As of now, about 1.1 crore enumeration forms have been distributed, with more expected to be completed by the deadline.

While the Election Commission has issued instructions for all the concerned officers to ensure accuracy, both the government and the opposition parties have kept a close watch on the developments, considering the electoral implications of the SIR process in the state’s volatile political landscape.

Banerjee’s refusal to participate in the process until every person in the state completes the form has sparked significant political debate, particularly with the 2026 assembly elections looming on the horizon. The SIR, which is crucial for maintaining accurate voter rolls, remains a point of contention between political factions, but Banerjee's stance may only heighten the stakes in the coming months.

The matter surrounding the revision of electoral rolls, especially the allegations of inaccuracies and mismanagement, will likely continue to dominate the political discourse in West Bengal as the process moves forward.