Mamata Banerjee Ends Sit-In Over SIR Following Supreme Court Assurance

MP, March 11, 2026, Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lifted her sit-in protest over the ‘hasty’ implementation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which began on March 6.

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had urged the party supremo on Monday to end the demonstration. Mamata Banerjee said she called off the protest after the Supreme Court assured that the names of voters under adjudication could be included up to the penultimate day of elections.

She added that, having received partial justice following the Court’s observations on Tuesday, she decided to end the sit-in. “We were on the street for five days. Abhishek took opinions from all. I have therefore taken the decision to withdraw it,” Banerjee said.

The TMC supremo emphasised that the sit-in was aimed at ensuring people’s voting rights and added that the party could approach the tribunal after the polls are announced. “It is the victory of the people. We will keep a track,” she said.

Speaking to the gathering on Tuesday evening, she added: “Even after the polls are announced, the matter will be under the consideration of the Supreme Court. Don’t think that your names will not be uploaded after the polls are announced. If anyone’s name is not included till the penultimate day of elections, please come to us, and we will show it as a special case.”

Banerjee further said: “We are also waiting for the final justice. People will get their voting rights. The door, which was closed, has been opened.”

She once again criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that the poll body was deliberately trying to delay the Bengal elections. Banerjee also suggested that the announcement of polls could be timed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the Brigade rally on March 14. She speculated that elections may be announced on March 15 or 16.

Earlier, Banerjee had painted the words ‘SIR’ and ‘Vanish’ on a canvas at the dharna stage to protest against alleged arbitrary deletions from electoral rolls. Gold-winning heptathlete Swapna Barman, who recently joined the TMC, attended the sit-in, calling the SIR exercise a “butchering” of democracy.

A team of representatives from the Sikh community, led by Gurbaks Singh, also visited the dharna stage to express support for Banerjee.