‘BJP and Modi will not take away your voting rights on my watch,’ she thundered. Banerjee mocked Modi’s foreign policy overtures, questioning why he sets aside communal rhetoric abroad only to return and target voter lists. ‘In Saudi Arabia, handshakes; in Dubai, hugs – where’s the infiltrator talk then?’ she quipped.

The CM detailed the havoc wrought by the revision: countless legitimate voters erased from rolls. Her legal salvo includes a petition to the Supreme Court, signaling an unrelenting campaign. ‘This fight against mindless deletions goes on,’ she promised.

The speech timed perfectly with ECI’s evening update: a supplementary list of disputed cases heads to judicial review on March 23. West Bengal CEO figures show 34% of reviewed names barred from voting, with appeals possible via 19 tribunals.

Banerjee’s rhetoric escalated against divisive forces: ‘Those trying to fracture Bengal’s unity and target its people belong in hell.’ She celebrated the region’s historic interfaith amity, vowing fierce resistance to religious polarization.

Nephew and TMC heavyweight Abhishek Banerjee reinforced the message, urging sustained communal peace.

As political battles intensify, Mamata’s rally crystallizes TMC’s narrative: defending democracy against central overreach.

‘Parliament must debate this,’ Tewari stated firmly. Instances across states reveal a pattern of non-transparent SIR processes, where voter lists are allegedly manipulated to delete opposition votes. The West Bengal episode, where Mamata Banerjee sought Supreme Court intervention, exemplifies the crisis of credibility plaguing the poll panel.

Tewari didn’t spare the trade front either. With Trump signaling 15% tariffs worldwide, India’s decision to slash duties to zero on dozens of products for the US appears lopsided. ‘America pays nothing to enter our market, but we foot 15% to theirs. This demands a government response,’ he pressed.

On the political counterattack, Bihar’s Dilip Jaiswal accused Congress of internal discord. Senior figures shun Rahul Gandhi, preferring Nehru-Gandhi legacies over his vision, which Jaiswal branded as detrimental to national interests. The exchange highlights deepening political rifts ahead of key electoral battles.

A dedicated window from December 23, 2025, to January 22, 2026, allowed citizens to file claims for inclusions, removals, or updates. By February 14, 2026, authorities had processed every submission with thorough checks.

The campaign’s triumph was a collective effort involving 55 district officers, 230 registration officers, 533 assistants, 71,930 BLOs, and enthusiastic volunteers. Political parties, media, and civil society groups extended vital cooperation.

Enumeration reached 5.31 crore of 5.74 crore voters, with complete digital integration. House-to-house verifications by BLOs flagged deceased, migrated, and duplicate entries effectively.

Forms were disseminated widely post-SIR announcement, digitized swiftly. Collaborative sessions with BLOs and party representatives verified anomalies, with lists uploaded online for public scrutiny.

Voter tally evolved from 5.74 crore pre-draft, to 5.31 crore post-draft, and finally 5.39 crore—a clean increase of 8.49 lakh. This purification strengthens electoral integrity.

Accessibility is prioritized: the roll is at polling booths, key locations, online portals, and shared with political parties. Voters can now verify their status seamlessly ahead of future polls.

Starting from 5.46 crore voters in late October 2025, the draft phase excluded 41.84 lakh names, resulting in a preliminary count of 5.04 crore by mid-December. Subsequent claims added 12.91 lakh new registrants, while 2.42 lakh were struck off, yielding the current figure—a drop of 31.36 lakh from the baseline.

Demographic insights highlight 2.69 crore men, 2.45 crore women, and 562 transgender individuals. The process boosted total voters by 10.48 lakh, or 2.08%, with Jaipur topping district-wise gains at 3.45%.

The statewide gender ratio climbed to 911 from 909, thanks to improvements in key areas like Jaipur (7 points) and Kota (6 points). Young voters (18-19 years) surged by 4.35 lakh, a 0.82% increase, led by districts such as Jaipur and Barmer.

This refined list underscores the Election Commission’s commitment to precision, purging ghosts and integrating genuine newcomers, setting a robust stage for Rajasthan’s democratic processes.

As rival parties gear up—Congress and BJP eyeing government formation, TMC confident of a second term—the state witnesses escalating tensions. Sarkar decried the removal of legitimate voters’ names, fostering widespread intimidation. ‘Conditions are worsening daily,’ he said.

Recalling TMC’s initial resistance to SIR, Sarkar noted Congress’s push for a lawful implementation. However, he slammed the EC for procedural lapses: changing conditions arbitrarily and neglecting Booth Level Officer (BLO) training, leading to heartbreaking outcomes like suicides.

Congress’s roadmap is clear: defeat TMC, sideline BJP, and usher in effective rule. Venturing into Kerala, Sarkar forecasted a Congress government soon, attributing the party’s momentum to its internal democracy.

Bolstering this, Ghulam Ahmad Mir confirmed solo contests on all 294 seats, no truck with TMC. The manifesto, crafted from grassroots inputs addressing Bengal’s core concerns, nears completion within a fortnight, underscoring Congress’s election readiness.

Speaking on Thursday, Sachdeva pointed to the pervasive issue of Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators whose names have allegedly polluted Delhi’s voter database. He praised the SIR as the perfect tool to detect and delete such entries, restoring purity to the democratic process.

To bolster public participation, BJP has deployed specialized squads across districts, each fortified with legal advisors. These units will troubleshoot issues, offer counsel, and ensure the revision unfolds seamlessly. ‘Our goal is uncompromised accuracy,’ Sachdeva stressed.

Spanning key regions like Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, and Odisha, the SIR rollout begins in April 2026. This comprehensive drive underscores ECI’s resolve to eliminate bogus votes, a concern echoed by various stakeholders.

As Delhi stands at the forefront, this revision could dramatically alter electoral dynamics, compelling parties to prioritize citizen verification. Sachdeva’s proactive stance positions BJP as a vanguard in safeguarding electoral sanctity.

Thursday’s announcement from a senior official detailed the list: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Ladakh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, NCT Delhi, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, Tripura, Telangana, and Uttarakhand.

In parallel, SIR processes in 13 states and UTs are on the verge of wrapping up, reflecting ECI’s methodical approach to nationwide coverage. CEOs received firm directives to fast-track all groundwork.

Election Commission Secretary Pawan Dewan’s advisory laid out the timeline: ‘Preparatory works for SIR exercise must be completed at the earliest, as the revision in 22 states/UTs begins April 2026.’ It referenced key orders from June 24, 2025, for universal SIR, July 5 for pre-revision starts (barring Bihar), and October 27 for launching in 12 areas.

Spotlighting challenges, reports from Kolkata reveal about 20 lakh documents lingering in re-verification queues with DEOs, mere days from draft roll hearings. West Bengal CEO sources attribute this to ‘logical errors’ spotted by micro-observers during scrutiny.

Micro-observers identified mismatches with ECI’s approved 13 identity documents, prompting returns to DEOs for double-checks. ‘DEOs have been urged to finalize re-verification and submit reports swiftly,’ the source added.

As India eyes cleaner elections, this SIR drive signals ECI’s zero-tolerance for lapses, fortifying the foundation of fair voting and curbing potential manipulations.

An insider from the state CEO’s office confirmed the ECI’s latest directive, which lambasts the government for ignoring prior orders. ‘Repeated nudges fell on deaf ears,’ the source noted, prompting the commission to impose a hard deadline.

Spotlight falls on Baruipur East in South 24 Parganas, where ERO Debottram Dutta Chowdhury and AERO Tathagata Mandal stand accused. Similarly, in East Midnapore’s Moyna constituency, ERO Biplab Sarkar and AERO Sudipta Das face the heat for purportedly injecting phantom voters into the rolls.

Flashback to August 2023: ECI headquarters in New Delhi had already mandated suspensions and police complaints. Months later, little progress has been made, fueling accusations of political shielding.

This episode highlights deeper rot in Bengal’s electoral machinery. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) was meant to purify lists bloated by an estimated lakhs of fake entries. Yet, ground-level lapses persist, raising alarms for democratic fairness.

Stakeholders from opposition parties have hailed the ECI’s resolve, demanding swift action. The state, however, maintains procedural hurdles. As the deadline looms, it remains a test of administrative will versus electoral oversight.

Issued by Under Secretary ML Meena, the order empowers Mishra to enforce ECI directives meticulously. He will oversee the entire revision exercise, ensuring it aligns perfectly with the Commission’s timelines and standards.

Mishra’s duties include on-ground assessments through regular state visits. He will evaluate SIR implementation, polling station setups, and preparations for the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections, submitting actionable insights to the ECI.

All his engagements will be synchronized with CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal, who is responsible for providing comprehensive support. This includes access to necessary documents, security, and other facilities.

Notably, the ECI has barred Mishra from directly praising or issuing certificates to election staff. Instead, he must forward any such recommendations formally to the Commission with supporting rationale.

With the claims and objections hearing window closing tomorrow, the process is entering its final phase. Document verification runs through February 21, paving the way for the final electoral roll release on February 28.

This revision, initiated last December, aims to cleanse the voter lists of discrepancies, a crucial foundation for credible polls. Mishra’s appointment signals the ECI’s zero-tolerance stance on irregularities, especially in a politically charged state like West Bengal.

Election watchers anticipate that his vigilance will enhance public trust in the system. As deadlines approach, the focus sharpens on delivering a flawless voter database for the battles ahead.

This decision emerged from a high-stakes meeting Tuesday between CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal and the ECI chiefs at their New Delhi office. The visit aims to gauge preparedness on the ground.

The itinerary includes intensive sessions with the CEO’s team, encompassing additional, joint, and deputy CEOs, alongside DEOs. The focus will be on post-SIR developments and logistical hurdles for the upcoming polls.

Expect the announcement of election dates soon after, with insiders confirming a first-week-of-March reveal, as directed in the capital.

A key debate centered on phasing: Agarwal pushed hard for a unified single-phase election, contingent on robust CAPF support. The ECI nodded to limiting phases to three maximum, though no final call was made.

West Bengal hasn’t seen a single-phase assembly vote since 2001; recent elections have dragged across multiple phases. Opting for fewer phases could boost efficiency but demands meticulous planning amid the state’s volatile politics.

As Bengal’s political heavyweights gear up, this ECI oversight visit highlights the commission’s proactive stance in preempting poll-related issues and upholding democratic integrity.