‘Won’t allow Modi ji to snatch your rights’: Mamata slams voter list deletions ahead of Bengal polls

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government of attempting to "snatch away the voting rights" of citizens through a controversial review of electoral rolls just weeks before the state assembly elections.

Addressing a massive gathering of worshippers following Eid prayers at Kolkata’s Red Road, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists has resulted in large-scale deletions. She characterised the exercise as a strategic move to manipulate the upcoming electoral process.

"We will not allow (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji to take away your voting rights. We will fight till the end to protect democracy and the rights of every citizen," Banerjee said.

Allegations of Voter Suppression

The TMC has repeatedly claimed that the SIR exercise disproportionately targets minority-dominated areas, removing the names of legitimate voters. The Chief Minister warned that any attempt to disenfranchise the public under the guise of verification would meet fierce resistance.

"Those who are targeting Bengal and trying to divide people should go to hell," she told the crowd, which represents a key demographic in a state where Muslims comprise approximately 30 per cent of the population.

Banerjee also emphasised West Bengal’s history of pluralism, asserting that the state would remain a bulwark against communal polarisation. "Bengal believes in unity. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians — everyone lives together here. We will not allow anyone to break this social fabric," she said.

Defiance from Leadership

TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee joined the Chief Minister in criticising the alleged efforts to divide the electorate. The Diamond Harbour MP insisted that the state’s tradition of harmony would prevail over sectarian politics.

Striking a particularly defiant tone regarding the protection of democratic rights, Abhishek Banerjee declared: "Gardan katega par jhukega nahi (you can chop off my head, but I will not bow)."

Electoral Context

The BJP has dismissed these allegations, maintaining that the electoral roll revision is a standard, routine procedure conducted by the Election Commission to eliminate duplicate or ineligible entries. However, political analysts note that the TMC is successfully linking the technical scrutiny of voter lists to a broader narrative of central overreach.

The high-stakes battle for the 294-member assembly comes as the TMC seeks a fourth consecutive term against a BJP attempting to build on its previous gains in the 2019 and 2021 cycles.

The elections are scheduled to be conducted in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with the final counting of votes set for May 4.

With inputs from PTI