Mamata Banerjee Walks Out of Meeting with Election Commissioner Over Voter Roll Dispute
Image Source: Internet
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has escalated a confrontation with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of the state's upcoming Assembly elections. Banerjee, accompanied by Trinamool Congress leaders, met the Election Commission in New Delhi to voice concerns about the SIR process in West Bengal. However, the meeting ended abruptly after Banerjee accused the CEC of being 'insulting, disrespectful, and humiliating'. The dispute centers around the SIR process, which the TMC claims has unfairly targeted West Bengal voters. Banerjee has demanded that the Election Commission halt the ongoing SIR, alleging that it would lead to 'mass disenfranchisement' and undermine democracy. She also accused the ECI of serious irregularities, procedural violations, and administrative lapses, citing the removal of over 2 crore names from voter lists, including people wrongly marked as deceased. Banerjee has since moved the Supreme Court challenging the ongoing SIR, and the matter is yet to be listed for hearing. The Election Commission has responded, stating that the CEC responded to Banerjee's queries and that she left the meeting without hearing the EC's responses. The commission also cited incidents of vandalism at ERO offices by TMC workers and emphasized the need for no pressure or interference on officers engaged in SIR work.
