In Kolkata on September 3, BJP’s senior leader Sunil Bansal called for a special review of West Bengal’s electoral rolls. He accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of “protecting infiltrators” to help certain political parties secure votes.
Bansal spoke at an event focused on the idea of ‘One Nation, One Election.’ He claimed that some parties, like Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, support Bangladeshi infiltrators as long as these people are included in voters’ lists.
The BJP leader emphasized the need for a thorough check of voters’ lists. He pointed out that the central government recently carried out a special revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, where the goal was to remove infiltrators who are not Indian citizens. “Only Indian citizens should have the right to vote,” Bansal said.
He also criticized opposition parties like RJD and Congress, accusing them of supporting infiltrators to gain political advantages. Bansal stressed that removing these infiltrators from voters’ lists is crucial and said, “This is the first step to throwing infiltrators out of the country.”
Bansal accused Mamata Banerjee of opposing the update once her political interests are affected. “She and leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav support infiltrators because they want their votes,” he claimed.
There are reports that the Election Commission of India (ECI) plans to conduct a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. Sources say preparations are already underway.
However, Mamata Banerjee has made it clear she won’t allow the SIR process in Bengal. The controversy continues as political parties debate the issue of voter lists and infiltration.
