In West Bengal, the upcoming state election is heating up, and the spotlight is on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. The SIR has sparked rumors that millions of “illegal” voters could be removed, a claim that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the ruling party in the state deny.
Abhishek Banerjee steps into the news
Abhishek Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress general secretary and nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has become the face of the party’s fight against the SIR. Though he usually stays out of the limelight, he has taken a leading role in the debate after the Election Commission announced the second round of voter‑list revisions.
He is called the “general” of the party by loyal TMC supporters. Many TMC members see him as the natural successor to Mamata and say he will play a bigger role once the 2026 Assembly elections start. Analysts note that the younger Banerjee’s rise has coincided with the growing tensions over the voter‑list updates.
What the SIR debate is about
The SIR aims to clean up the electoral rolls by removing duplicate and bogus names. The Election Commission said up to 65 lakh voters were cut from the list in Bihar. In West Bengal, BJP officials claim that as many as 1.2 crore names could be deleted. The TMC, however, insists that the updates do not hurt legitimate voters.
During a press conference, Abhishek praised the need to protect “vulnerable voters” and urged TMC workers to monitor poll‑officers who would visit households to verify registrations. He also accused the BJP of threatening “rivers of blood” if the list was amended, a claim that led to heated exchanges between the parties. Both sides later toned down their rhetoric.
A race to control the narrative
Mamata Banerjee remains the public face of TMC, but Abhishek’s increased visibility suggests a shift in how the party presents itself. While Mamata emphasizes the party’s overall stability, Abhishek focuses on organizational detail and front‑line strategy.
Journalist Suvashis Maitra points out that leaders on both sides are building narratives to intimidate each other. The SIR debate has become a key issue ahead of a high‑stakes Assembly election that is expected in the first half of 2026.
Why it matters to voters
For West Bengal voters, the SIR could change the composition of the electorate and therefore the outcome of the election. The TMC wants to assure voters that the changes will not remove genuine names, while the BJP warns of a “mass cut” that could disenfranchise many.
As the election approaches, the country’s biggest state is looking very closely at the SIR debate. Abhishek Banerjee’s public role, his calls for vigilance, and the tension between TMC and BJP leaders all point to a contest that could shape the political future of West Bengal for years to come.
Source: ianslive
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