'Game Of Destruction': Mamata Banerjee Questions Appointment Of Micro-Observers For Bengal SIR

Last Updated:January 13, 2026, 18:00 IST

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee alleged that micro-observers are marking legitimate residents as "not found" at block level without asking for or inspecting supporting documents

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee questioned the removal of 5.4 million voters from the electoral rolls. (Image: PTI/File)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday slammed the Election Commission of India over a large-scale “purge" from voter lists and questioned the appointment of micro-observers for the special intensive revision exercise in the state.

Banerjee alleged that the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a massive exercise in disenfranchisement, stating that millions of voters – specifically women and vulnerable groups – have been illegally purged from the rolls. With the draft list containing entries across crores of names, she argued it is impossible for the public to check for errors in such a short window.

She questioned the removal of 5.4 million voters, alleging it is a “game of destruction" orchestrated by the BJP that is operating from within the office of the Election Commission of India (ECI). She said “several lakh names have been blocked" without providing the affected people any opportunity to show cause or verify their status.

Banerjee alleged that the deletions selectively targeted women, suggesting that the BJP has “played games with the Election Commission (EC)" for its own political interests. She said even the electoral registration officers (ERO) were unaware of these massive changes, with their association reportedly stating that they had no information regarding the deletions.

Highlighting widespread distress, she claimed that the stress of losing voting rights has led to 84 deaths. “Seventeen have suffered brain strokes or heart attacks," she said, adding that the BJP must take responsibility for these tragedies.

The chief minister particularly questioned the role of micro-observers, asking: “Why have micro-observers been appointed only in Bengal?"

She alleged that these officials, whom she described as either “traitors" or “servile," are marking legitimate residents as “not found" at the block level without asking for or inspecting any supporting documents. She drew parallels to previous instances in Maharashtra and Bihar, where similar discrepancies were allegedly only detected after final lists were published. 

These allegations come days after the EC directed deployed micro-observers to carry out rigorous quality-control measures. On January 10, it instructed them to closely monitor field-level activities to flag any irregularities during the SIR.

It has maintained that micro-observers must function with “strict adherence to transparency, accuracy and neutrality" to ensure the production of error-free and inclusive electoral rolls. According to official sources, the SIR is a crucial framework intended to ensure that the instructions are followed “in letter and spirit without any external influence".

News elections 'Game Of Destruction': Mamata Banerjee Questions Appointment Of Micro-Observers For Bengal SIR

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