In Kolkata on November 28, Trinamool Congress’s general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee shot down the Election Commission of India (ECI) for what he says is a deliberate campaign of selective leaks. He claimed that the commission had falsely reported that it had given a “point-wise rebuttal” to every worry raised by a ten‑member TMC delegation about the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of West Bengal’s voter rolls.
Banerjee demanded full proof, asking the ECI to turn over all evidence—including CCTV footage—and to answer five specific questions the party had lodged. In a social‑media post he said, “The Election Commission is deliberately planting selective leaks to falsely claim that they have provided a point-by-point rebuttal to the issues raised by the AITC delegation today. These assertions are not just misleading; they are OUTRIGHT LIES. If the EC truly has nothing to hide and actually believes in transparency, then instead of hiding behind motivated leaks, it must immediately release the full CCTV footage and every piece of evidence it claims to possess. Anything less only exposes their bad faith and raises serious questions about their intent.”
He also urged the commission to take the time it needs to respond properly to the five questions raised by the delegation, insisting that a few hours would be insufficient. “And let me add this clearly: A few hours will always be too short, take as many days as you want to answer the five basic questions we placed before you,” Banerjee added.
The MP went on to say the party has “enough digital evidence” to show how the ECI’s story was being distorted by fabricated leaks and warned the commission to think twice before “picking a fight” with West Bengal and the TMC.
Earlier that day, the TMC delegation—headed by Derek O’Brien—sat down with senior ECI officials at Nirvachan Sadan in Delhi to press the commission on SIR concerns. After the meeting, the delegation alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar did not satisfactorily answer five key questions, such as whether the SIR’s real intent was to uncover “fake voters” or so‑called “infiltrators,” and why West Bengal was singled out while other border states were not.
O’Brien accused the ECI of ignoring repeated warnings from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the party’s leadership that completing the SIR would be impossible, while the exercise continued at the expense of field officers and citizens. “Yet the ECI ignored repeated warnings on this count, and the human toll continued while following the commission’s orders that clearly prioritise partisan advantage over life and fairness. These horrifying incidents expose a chilling truth: the BJP, aided by a pliant Election Commission, is willing to sacrifice human lives for power,” he said.
The ECI sharply rejected the delegation’s public accusations. Senior officials maintained that the commission had indeed supplied a “point-wise rebuttal” to every concern voiced by the TMC MPs and that the revision was being carried out in strict compliance with the Constitution and electoral laws. They urged political parties to cooperate rather than undermine the process.
According to the ECI, the delegation had been informed that all objections, complaints and documents pertaining to the revision should be filed only after the draft rolls are released on December 9, after which claims can be formally examined. The commission reiterated that preparing electoral rolls and conducting elections are constitutional responsibilities of the ECI, and that stakeholders must operate within the legal framework.
When the delegation raised worries that booth‑level officers, electoral registration officers, assistant registration officers and data‑entry staff were facing extreme pressure or intimidation, commission sources assured them that such complaints would be taken seriously. The ECI has directed the top police administration in West Bengal to protect these officials—state employees deputed to assist the commission—from threats, coercion or partisan pressure.
Insiders also confirmed that the SIR’s stated objective is to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the voters’ list, including the removal of ineligible entries, and that all legally prescribed measures to eliminate fake voters or non‑citizens from the rolls will be applied as part of the revision exercise.
After leaving the ECI meeting, TMC MPs reiterated their demand for clarity on the five questions and accused the commission of failing to allay their concerns despite the ECI’s claim that detailed replies had already been given. The standoff remains unresolved until the draft rolls are published and any formal objections are filed and adjudicated.
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