Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to gain full control over West Bengal by manipulating the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Speaking at a press conference on April 2, Ghosh claimed the BJP and the Election Commission are colluding during the SIR process, alleging the removal of legitimate voters from the electoral lists.
He stated, “On the name of SIR, the BJP, the Election Commission, whatever it is doing, the Supreme Court is giving the right directions. It is now completely clear that the BJP wants to take full control by keeping the Election Commission in front. This is not just a fight of TMC, this is a fight of the entire Bengal for those whose names they are deleting.” Ghosh added that unrest currently occurring in the state is deliberately caused by the BJP, saying, “Now, whatever unrest is happening, it is sponsored by the BJP. They are deliberately doing this. The BJP is spreading unrest. We are also fighting, but we are fighting legally.”
Earlier on the same day, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of conspiring to cancel the upcoming assembly elections and impose President’s rule in West Bengal. Addressing a rally in Sagardighi, she cited an incident in Malda where villagers took seven judicial officers hostage, alleging BJP involvement.
Banerjee claimed, “Administration is not under my control right now. Law and order (situation) is being controlled by the ECI. They work as per the instructions of Home Minister Amit Shah. The Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, DG, SPs, DMs, ADMs, BDOs, ICs and several other state officials have been changed.” She further alleged, “You (BJP) have tried to provoke people in many ways. The plan is to cancel the elections. If that happens, nobody will have the right to vote. They will capture Bengal forcefully. ECI has snatched away my powers and has imposed a ‘super President’s Rule’ with the help of the Home Minister and the Governor.”
The 294-member West Bengal Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with vote counting set for May 4. In the previous election held in 2021 over eight phases, the TMC achieved a landslide victory with 213 seats, while the BJP increased its tally to 77 seats. The Congress and Left Front did not win any seats in that election.