Nadia, West Bengal – In a pointed response to the Supreme Court’s directives on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, BJP leader Jaganath Sarkar emphasized that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has a solemn duty to ensure electoral integrity and protect citizens’ voting rights.
Speaking exclusively to reporters in Nadia, Sarkar underscored the ECI’s ongoing efforts through SIR to cleanse voter rolls. ‘It’s the Commission’s responsibility to verify facts and remove inaccuracies,’ he stated. ‘How can names of deceased individuals or those who have relocated remain on the list? The Supreme Court’s instructions are spot on.’
Drawing parallels with Bihar’s recent SIR exercise, Sarkar highlighted how opposition parties there attempted to mislead the public by claiming votes of living persons were deleted. ‘Reality prevailed,’ he said. ‘Not a single voter complained to the Commission about wrongful removal. Assembly elections proceeded with a purified list, and NDA secured a landslide victory. Bengal’s upcoming polls will see TMC face a similar fate.’
Sarkar lambasted TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee’s remarks on the Supreme Court order, dubbing it a ‘Supreme Slap.’ ‘TMC has thrived on infiltrators’ votes until now,’ he alleged. ‘Their game of adding Bangladeshi Muslims to voter lists as locals is ending. The days of benefiting from illegal votes are over.’
The controversy erupted after the Supreme Court ordered the ECI to expedite SIR amid concerns over bogus voters. Banerjee had mocked BJP, claiming their faces were red with embarrassment and that those who intimidated 10 crore Bengalis were now trembling. Sarkar’s rebuttal signals escalating political tensions ahead of state elections, with voter list purification at the epicenter.
As Bengal gears up for polls, the ECI’s role in maintaining a clean electoral roll becomes crucial. Sarkar’s comments reflect BJP’s aggressive push to highlight alleged manipulations, setting the stage for a fiercely contested battle.