Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee called for a boycott of the BJP in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. He accused the BJP of manipulating voters through the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Banerjee made these statements during a protest in central Kolkata against nearly 60 lakh people being categorized as “under adjudication” in the final electoral rolls after the SIR exercise.
Banerjee also demanded transparency from the Election Commission regarding the identification of “Bangladeshis” and “Rohingyas” in West Bengal during the SIR process. He emphasized the need for the publication of electoral rolls in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directives. Banerjee highlighted the impact of the SIR exercise, stating that around 1.20 crore people have been affected, with approximately 60 lakh individuals under the “under adjudication” category.
The Trinamool Congress leader criticized the Election Commission for the removal of names from the draft list and raised concerns about the exclusion of a significant number of individuals. He alleged that BJP leaders had prior knowledge of these figures, indicating a deliberate targeting of certain voters. Banerjee vowed to continue protesting until the rights of these affected individuals are restored.
Banerjee also questioned the identification of alleged illegal migrants during the revision exercise and urged the Election Commission to provide clarity on this issue. He commented on the resignation of West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose amid the controversy, suggesting a trend of resignations among officials in the state. Banerjee criticized the BJP’s Parivartan Yatra, accusing the party of prioritizing political campaigns over addressing the concerns of the people.
