SIR Under Attack in West Bengal: How political narratives turn routine voter list revision into a contentious battle

Mamata Banerjee’s vehement condemnation of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) as “votebandi” reframes a routine electoral exercise into a drama of disenfranchisement. By drawing a parallel with “notebandi,” she transforms what is fundamentally a technical process into a political battleground. Her narrative, though emotionally charged, risks undermining not just the integrity of voter rolls, but the very institutions that uphold democratic legitimacy.

SIR is not a novel invention; rather, it is a constitutionally sanctioned mechanism under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, designed to update voter lists, correct erroneous entries, remove duplicates, and incorporate eligible new voters. In a country as vast and mobile as India, periodic verification of electoral rolls is indispensable. Far from being an extraordinary fiat, SIR simply seeks to align the voter list with ground realities.

Yet, opposing voices in West Bengal have chosen to portray it otherwise. Banerjee’s depiction suggests a sweeping conspiracy to strip citizens of their voting rights. This framing, powerful as it may be, departs significantly from the procedural safeguards that the Election Commission has put in place. Notices are mandatory before removal, objections may be filed, and appeals are available. Bloated rolls are not discarded arbitrarily; BLOs are trained to verify documents with flexibility, even accepting varied proofs for vulnerable populations.

The political subtext cannot be ignored. West Bengal’s electoral history is marked by sensitive demographics, migration, border disputes, and older registration systems. A meticulous revision threatens inaccuracies, inflated lists, and missing entries that benefit entrenched interests. By framing SIR as “votebandi,” Banerjee deflects attention from these distortions, while projecting herself as a guardian of excluded voices.

It is one thing to demand fairness, and quite another to evoke fear. The issue is not paper or forms; it is trust. When political rhetoric turns a precision exercise into a spectacle, voters begin to believe in exclusion even when safeguards exist. The risk is real: a process that should strengthen democracy ends up eroding faith in institutions.

However, concern is not misplaced. Given the complexity of migration, lack of standardised documentation, and historical gaps in registration, many citizens genuinely struggle with verification. But SIR does not block them; it encourages their inclusion. The system allows for alternate proofs, repeated visits, and transparency in dealing with objections. The Commission has repeatedly emphasised that SIR is about inclusion—not elimination.

The danger is that political theatre now fuels administrative anxiety. Instead of reassuring the public, Banerjee’s narrative escalates it, and for a purpose. As electoral competition intensifies with the 2025 cycle looming, her strategy mobilises fear among constituencies that feel vulnerable. In doing so, she trades off civic confidence for political gain.

The heart of the matter, however, is not the reform itself; it is the distrust that political narratives foster. By insisting that the blood of eligible voters runs through “votebandi,” Banerjee makes reassurance more difficult. Rather than calming nerves, she magnifies them, contributing to a culture in which verification becomes suspicion.

A democratic polity must ground itself in trust, not tremors. Even the best processes falter when trust is lacking. If SIR is to succeed, it must not just be implemented properly; it must be communicated with humility and clarity. Publication of deletion lists, clear appeal mechanisms, and citizen-friendly outreach are not optional extras; they are essential to the legitimacy of the exercise.

At its core, SIR is not an administrative act; it is a renewal of the social contract between citizen and state. A clean voter list affirms the principle that every vote matters and that every voter deserves recognition. The political noise around SIR should not obscure this conviction. The integrity of elections demands more than a war of words: it needs steadfast processes, respectful engagement, and transparent institutions.

Mamata Banerjee’s sharp critique may dominate headlines, but history will not remember the slogans. It will remember whether SIR strengthened citizenship or deepened distrust. And in that reckoning, what matters is not just who wins the argument, but who reaffirms the dignity of every voter.