Mamata slams BJP over voter rights
West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee on Saturday accused the BJP-led Union Government snatching away voting rights through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), and described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the biggest infiltrator, intensifying tensions ahead of polls.
Addressing a gathering after Eid prayers at Kolkata’s Red Road, Banerjee said her party would resist any attempt to dilute electoral rights. “We will not allow Modi ji and the BJP to take away your voting rights. We will fight till the end,” she said.
Framing the upcoming polls as a battle to protect democratic rights and the State’s plural social fabric, Banerjee alleged that names of genuine voters — particularly from minority-dominated areas — had been removed during the SIR exercise.
She said her Government had approached the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court of India, expressing hope that people’s rights will be protected.
Her remarks come amid an ongoing confrontation between the State Government and the Election Commission of India over the revision of electoral rolls, which the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) claims has led to exclusion of legitimate voters.
Banerjee also accused the Union Government of promoting communal narratives for political gain and alleged that an undeclared President’s Rule was being imposed in the State.
The BJP has made illegal immigration a central campaign issue, accusing the State Government of enabling infiltration from Bangladesh to consolidate its minority vote base.
TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who also addressed the gathering, said the party would defend Bengal’s communal harmony. “Attempts to divide communities will fail,” he said.
Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4.
