Mamata Banerjee Critiques Election Commission's Flawed SIR Process

Mamata Banerjee's Strong Criticism of Election Commission

Kolkata: West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has intensified her criticism of the Election Commission, urging Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to suspend the 'arbitrary and flawed' SIR process in the state. She cautioned that continuing this approach could lead to 'mass disenfranchisement' and undermine the very foundations of democracy. In a pointed letter dated December 3, Banerjee accused the commission of overseeing an 'unplanned, ill-prepared, and ad hoc' process riddled with 'serious irregularities, procedural violations, and administrative lapses.'

Despite her previous communications to the CEC, she noted that conditions on the ground have only deteriorated. 'I am once again compelled to express my grave concerns,' she stated, referencing earlier letters sent on November 20 and December 2. Banerjee criticized the 'undue haste' with which the SIR is being executed, claiming it lacks adequate groundwork and preparation, rendering the process 'fundamentally flawed.' She described the issues as 'illustrative and by no means exhaustive,' concluding that the current execution of the SIR is 'compromised' and threatens the core of democracy. 'These deficiencies collectively indicate that the SIR process is deeply compromised and undermines the structural integrity of our democracy,' she warned, urging immediate corrective measures to prevent 'irreparable damage' and 'large-scale disenfranchisement.'