West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday once again targeted the Election Commission of India (ECI) accusing it of acting on the directions of a political party. She said the Election Commission has now become a "Tughlaqi Commission" and is functioning with clear political bias. "EC has become a 'Tughlaqi Commission' run by a political party. Election Commission treating ordinary people like terrorists...On instruction from BJP, the Election Commission is deleting names of Bengal's voters during SIR," Mamata alleged. By using the word 'Tughlaqi', Banerjee was alluding to the Delhi sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq who was known for whimsical decisions.
This comes as political activity across West Bengal is intensifying as the state prepares for assembly elections this year. While parties have stepped up their preparations for the electoral battle, the rising tensions in the state are not solely election-driven. A major reason behind the political churn is the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, which has sparked a wave of allegations and counter-allegations.
Claim of AI being misused to delete voter names
Mamata Banerjee further claimed that a woman official from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT cell used artificial intelligence tools to remove the names of 58 lakh voters from the electoral rolls in West Bengal. She warned that such actions pose a direct threat to democracy and undermine the very foundation of free and fair elections. "A woman functionary in the BJP IT cell removed 58 lakh voters' names in Bengal using AI. The EC is defying Supreme Court orders, targeting voters, and undermining democracy," she said.
Allegation of ignoring Supreme Court orders
She further accused the Election Commission of disregarding directions issued by the Supreme Court of India and said the ongoing voter list exercise is being conducted in a manner that targets voters and weakens democratic processes. According to her, the integrity of the electoral system is being compromised at a critical moment for the state.
On voter deletions, she alleged that, on the instructions from the BJP, the EC is deleting the names of West Bengal's voters during the SIR. "Citing logical discrepancies, it is snatching away democratic rights and treating ordinary people like terrorists. Bengal is being targeted to satisfy the BJP," the TMC chief alleged.
Defending the seven assistant electoral registration officers (AEROs), who were suspended by the poll panel, she said, "If Bengal government's officers are victimised (by the EC), we will 100 per cent protect them and promote those who are demoted." In the state, 160 people lost their lives due to SIR anxiety and work-related pressure, Mamata claimed.
