Mamata demands CEC’s arrest, fresh Bengal polls using old voter list

Kolkata, Sept 23 : Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday demanded the arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and called for fresh Assembly elections in the state using the pre-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) electoral roll.

In a Facebook video message, Banerjee alleged that the Election Commission had acted in favour of the BJP and claimed that recent reports of differences within the three-member poll panel had vindicated concerns raised earlier by her party.

Her remarks came amid reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections on at least 14 occasions over the past 10 months concerning decisions related to voter registration, deletion of names and the management of electoral-roll data.

The Election Commission, however, rejected suggestions of a breakdown within the poll panel. In a statement issued on Wednesday, it said differing views and observations during the drafting and deliberation process were a normal part of institutional decision-making.

“Differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberation in any institution. They are a part of the decision-making process before a final decision is taken,” the Commission said, adding that final decisions, including those concerning the SIR exercise, had been taken unanimously.

Banerjee, however, maintained her criticism of the poll panel and alleged that its functioning had benefited the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and subsequent elections, including the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls. She said her party had previously sought action against Kumar, including his impeachment, but that no action had followed.

The Trinamool Congress chief demanded that voters whose names were deleted during the revision process be restored to the earlier electoral rolls. She also called for fresh elections in West Bengal using the pre-SIR voter list.

“Re-election must be held in West Bengal with the old voter list,” she said, according to reports.

Banerjee also announced plans for protests against Kumar and raised questions over the role of Election Commission IT officials and the functioning of its electoral software.

Referring to Seema Khanna, she demanded scrutiny of her role and alleged that the counting process had been “hijacked” in favour of the BJP. She linked the issue to earlier criticism by Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who had questioned the Election Commission’s technology and the deletion of names during the SIR exercise.

Reiterating her demand for action against Kumar, Banerjee said the CEC should not continue in office and alleged that the SIR exercise had been used to manipulate the electoral process. She also called for action against those whom she alleged had assisted him.

Banerjee appealed to regional parties and the INDIA bloc to come together against what she described as an assault on the electoral process. She called for nationwide mobilisation and urged Opposition parties to jointly press for action against the CEC.