'More Dangerous Than NRC': Mamata Cries Foul Over Electoral Rolls, BJP Alleges Political Meltdown

Last Updated:June 26, 2025, 22:06 IST

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said that letters were sent to the Bihar government, and she also received a copy of the same.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (PTI Image)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI) for seeking documentary proof from voters born between July 1987 and December 2004 as evidence of their citizenship in the name of ‘special intensive revision of electoral rolls’.

Speaking to the reporters in Digha during a press conference called by her, she alleged that the ECI was “acting like a stooge of the BJP".

“I have received two letters from the ECI, each comprising 25-30 pages. I haven’t been able to go through them in detail so far. But from what I have understood from a cursory glance, the Commission is now seeking a declaration form from voters born between July 1, 1987, and December 2, 2004, which is Annexure D in one of the letters, where they will have to submit birth certificates of both parents as proof of citizenship," Banerjee said.

“I don’t understand the reason behind the ECI move or the rationale behind selecting these dates. This is nothing short of a scam. I seek clarification from the Commission on whether they are trying to implement the NRC through backdoors. In fact, this looks to be more dangerous than the NRC which every political party in opposition must resist," she added.

Following her remark, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari took a swipe at her and said that Banerjee is gradually losing her ground because of political appeasement and corruption.

“Due to this, she is threatening the Election Commission, which is a constitutional and autonomous body. The ECI should take action against her statement," he added.

On the other hand, the West Bengal CM said that letters were sent to the Bihar government and she also received a copy of the same.

“Nothing will happen in Bihar because the BJP rules that state and the state elections there are at the doorstep. Their real target is Bengal. They want to delete the names of valid young voters. Many parents will not be able to furnish their birth certificates. They are targeting the migrant worker community of Bengal, students, villagers and uneducated voters," she alleged.

She accused the poll governing body of acting according to the wishes of the BJP and challenged its authority in making such rules.

“How can the ECI do this unilaterally without consulting the recognised political parties at the central and state levels who play a key role in running the country’s democratic structure? They are treating us like bonded labourers and doing this only to fulfil the wishes of a certain RSS pracharak who is now running the country for all practical purposes," the CM said, pointing to, but without naming, Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Amit Malviya Reacts To Mamata Banerjee’s Remarks

BJP leader Amit Malviya also attacked Mamata Banerjee and called it a “shocking and irresponsible charge" against the Election Commission.

“A shocking and irresponsible charge by the West Bengal CM against the Election Commission, just because the poll body has begun a lawful and routine drive to weed out illegal immigrants who were maliciously included in Bengal’s electoral rolls by the ruling TMC and CPI(M) before that," he said.

He further wondered why Banerjee is “rattled".

“Is she worried that the fake votebank she has built over the years—through unchecked infiltration and appeasement—is finally under scrutiny? Ensuring clean and accurate voter rolls is NOT NRC. It is electoral integrity. Only those who thrive on illegal votes fear the cleansing of the system," he added.

West Bengal, India, India

News politics 'More Dangerous Than NRC': Mamata Cries Foul Over Electoral Rolls, BJP Alleges Political Meltdown