The Election Commission of India (ECI) has written to the West Bengal government, identifying non-compliance with the instructions related to the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of the voter list and setting a deadline of February 9 for the compliance report.
TMC has dispute with ECI over SIR. (x)In a letter to the chief secretary of the state, the ECI mentioned compliance with at least five directives. Hours after Mamata Banerjee became the first sitting chief minister, she personally argued her own petition before the Supreme Court and urged to protect democracy and people’s lives. The court sought ECI’s response on the withdrawal of notices to lakhs of people for minor spelling variations and dialect-based discrepancies during the SIR. The next hearing in this regard will be held in the court on February 9.
The ECI cited non-compliance with the filing of cases against two Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and two Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) for allegedly adding fictitious voter names and compromising data security, sacked one ERO, deployed 11 additional EROs, conducted hearings on three electoral can transfers. Appointment of Sub-Divisional Officers as EROs and Returning Officers.
“You are requested to send compliance by February 9, 2026 at 3 p.m. [Monday]” said the letter, a copy of which was seen by HT.
West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) is at loggerheads with the ECI over the SIR. On Tuesday, Banerjee targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and sought his impeachment. “We don’t have the numbers [in Parliament]but impeachment may take place. There is provision for impeachment. If any such action is taken we will discuss it within the team. We all work together for public interest. I have no problem with that,” Banerjee told reporters in New Delhi.
