Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, urging the Election Commission of India (ECI) to immediately suspend the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, warning that the exercise could lead to “mass disenfranchisement” and cause “irreparable damage” to India’s democratic foundations.

In her letter dated December 3, Banerjee expressed “grave concern” over what she described as widespread irregularities, procedural violations and administrative lapses in the conduct of the SIR. She alleged that the revision process was undertaken in an “unplanned, ill-prepared and ad hoc manner,” undermining its credibility and fairness.

“The SIR process is deeply compromised and strikes at the basic structural framework of our democracy and the spirit of the Constitution,” the chief minister wrote.

Banerjee accused the Election Commission of acting with undue haste and without adequate groundwork, which, she claimed, resulted in serious operational flaws. These included faulty IT systems, inconsistent instructions to field officials, and inadequate training of personnel tasked with carrying out the revision.

“If allowed to continúe in its present form, it will result in irreparable damage, large-scale disenfranchisement of eligible voters, and a direct assault on the foundational principles of democratic governance,” she warned.

The chief minister called on the poll panel to implement immediate corrective measures to address the alleged shortcomings. Failing such action, she asserted, the “arbitrary and unplanned exercise must be halted.”

Banerjee also raised concerns over the alleged denial of participation to booth-level agents (BLAs) during the hearing process, stating that this exclusion raised “serious questions about the fairness, transparency and credibility” of the revision exercise.

Holding the Election Commission directly responsible for the conduct of the SIR, Banerjee said the ECI must be “held fully accountable for any illegal, arbitrary or biased actions carried out under its supervision or direction.”