New Delhi: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that it was acting as a “stooge of the BJP” and attempting to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) through the backdoor under the guise of a special revision of electoral rolls.
Speaking at a press conference in Digha, where she is overseeing preparations for the annual Rath Yatra festival, Banerjee said she had received two letters from the ECI containing new rules that she claimed unfairly target voters born between July 1, 1987, and December 2, 2004.
‘NRC in disguise’
“The Commission is now seeking a declaration form — Annexure D — from voters in this age group, requiring them to submit birth certificates of both parents to prove their citizenship. I ask, is this not NRC in disguise? In fact, this looks more dangerous than the NRC,” the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief said.
Banerjee alleged that the BJP’s real aim was to disenfranchise young voters in Bengal ahead of the 2026 state elections. “The BJP is afraid of Bengal. Bihar will be spared because they govern there and elections are due. But here, they want to delete the names of valid young voters, especially those from migrant families, students, villagers, and the underprivileged,” she said.
‘ECI functioning unilaterally’
She accused the ECI of functioning unilaterally and bypassing political parties, especially opposition-led governments. “How can the Election Commission implement such sweeping changes without consulting recognised political parties? They are trying to impose rules to serve the interests of a certain RSS pracharak who is running the country,” she said.
Banerjee also criticised the ECI for allegedly demanding details of TMC booth-level agents. “Why should I share the names of my agents? So that the BJP can buy them?” she asked.
The ECI has maintained that the special revision is aimed at ensuring transparency in the electoral roll and making sure that only eligible citizens are listed. The Commission has said the process is applicable across states and is not politically motivated.
‘Move can lead to mass disenfranchisement’
However, Banerjee warned that the move could lead to mass disenfranchisement. “This is a serious attack on democracy. If citizens aren’t vigilant, they may wake up to find their names removed from the rolls and end up in detention camps,” she said, urging all opposition parties across India to unite in protest.
She added that the TMC would resist the move both politically and through public mobilisation. “Our party will hit the streets soon. We won’t allow this dangerous game to succeed,” she said.
