Suvendu Adhikari says Mamata Banerjee responsible for deletion of 2.7 million names in Bengal SIR

PTI, September 27, 2026, Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday mounted a strong defence of the Election Commission amid an escalating political row over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, blaming former CM Mamata Banerjee for the deletion of 2.7 million names and asserting that neither the BJP nor the poll panel could be held responsible for the exclusions. 

Addressing a news conference, Adhikari said Saturday's meeting of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi and the subsequent statement issued by the poll panel made it clear that SIR-related decisions were not taken unilaterally by the CEC. 

"Those who are unable to mentally accept the BJP’s victory in Bengal are trying to spread confusion by clinging to a fabricated report. There is no question of anyone imposing a decision unilaterally," Adhikari said. 

The EC said on Saturday that last year's June 24 order for the nationwide SIR, as well as subsequent schedules, had the unanimous approval of all three commissioners.

"The responsibility for the deletion of 2.7 million names lies with Mamata Banerjee, not the BJP or the EC. Judicial officers took the decision following the Supreme Court's directions in a case filed by her," Adhikari said.

The CM also said: “Even after the entire process was conducted under the supervision of the court, you (Mamata Banerjee) are now making baseless remarks after losing the election, attacking the elected government and standing in an empty ground raising slogans of ‘Azaadi’. You are still refusing to accept the people’s mandate.”

The EC on Saturday asserted that all SIR orders had received unanimous consent from all three commissioners and that changes to Form 6 for voter enrolment had been upheld by the Supreme Court, as the poll panel sought to address issues at the centre of a raging row over decision-making in the commission and concerns over exclusion of voters from the rolls.

After its first meeting following reports claiming differences between the CEC and the two election commissioners, the poll panel said in the statement that letters sent by Sandhu and Joshi to the Cabinet Secretary pertained to an officer on deputation, rather than policy or IT division matters.

Adhikari alleged that opposition parties, out of frustration after their defeat in the state polls, were spreading canards over the SIR, and said their objection to it was "politically motivated".

Showing a photograph of the CEC and the two election commissioners sitting together, as released by the poll panel a day ago, the BJP leader said the meeting of the three proved that the decisions were taken collectively.

"Those who are unable to mentally accept the BJP’s victory in Bengal are trying to spread confusion by clinging to a fabricated report. This picture itself proves that every decision relating to the SIR was taken jointly and unanimously. There is no question of anyone imposing a decision unilaterally," Adhikari said.

The EC said on Saturday that last year's June 24 order for the nationwide SIR, as well as subsequent schedules, had the unanimous approval of all three commissioners.

The clarification came amid a controversy triggered by a report in The Indian Express that Sandhu and Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months to various decisions and orders.

His remarks came a day after Banerjee sharpened her attack on the chief election commissioner, alleging that the SIR was being used to help the BJP capture Bengal and demanding fresh elections with the pre-SIR voter list.

The CM sought to exploit the contrast between the reported internal exchanges and the commission's public show of unity, arguing that the latter undermined the opposition's contention that the SIR was driven by the CEC alone.

The political stakes are high. More than 22 lakh of the 27.16 lakh electors deleted during the Bengal SIR have appealed for restoration, according to figures submitted by the EC to the Supreme Court.

On the controversy over the 27 lakh deletions, Adhikari said, "You (Mamata Banerjee) went to the Supreme Court. Acting on your petition, the court entrusted the matter to judges. So why is the EC being blamed now? She is responsible for this."

The poll panel has said the adjudication process involved discrepancies identified in electoral rolls, while the judicial officers ultimately ordered the deletion of 27.16 lakh names. The Supreme Court subsequently directed the setting up of appellate tribunals to hear challenges against the deletion.