West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission (EC), alleging the deletion of tens of thousands of voters’ names in her constituency just ahead of elections. She claimed that 40,000 names were removed unilaterally, without any prior hearing, raising serious questions about the process.
Speaking at a press event, Banerjee specifically targeted Seema Khanna, alleging that she, “with a BJP mindset,” oversaw the deletion of voter names while sitting in the EC office. “Even a murderer gets a chance to defend himself,” the Chief Minister remarked, criticizing the unilateral approach. She accused the Commission of conducting the deletions under the pretext of “logical discrepancies,” citing instances like Nobel laureate Amartya Sen being summoned over the age of his mother.
Banerjee further questioned the timing of the revisions, asking why such changes were carried out just before the elections and not afterward. She also accused the ruling BJP of appointing “micro-observers” illegally, calling them party loyalists who had no official standing under the Representation of the People Act.
In a dramatic appeal, she called on voters marked as deceased in the lists to raise their hands, highlighting that many were still alive. Banerjee’s nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, echoed her concerns, claiming that around 58 lakh voter names had been deleted across the state without proper justification.
Challenging the EC to resolve political differences democratically, Mamata emphasized that her party has a strong organizational presence and is aware of the irregularities. The controversy comes amid heightened political tensions in West Bengal as the state prepares for upcoming elections.
The allegations have added another layer of friction between the Chief Minister and the Election Commission, raising concerns over voter rights and the transparency of electoral rolls.
