Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee has taken his party’s opposition against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal to Delhi. He, along with Rahul Gandhi, has alleged “vote chori” against the poll body, although Rahul’s criticism was broader, targeting institutions linked to the 2024 general elections. Abhishek specifically focused on the voter list revision process in West Bengal, demanding detailed technical disclosures from the Election Commission.
Abhishek Banerjee, the Trinamool General Secretary, has aligned with National Conference leader Omar Abdullah in dismissing any evidence of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) manipulation. In contrast, the Congress had expressed concerns over Abdullah’s stance on EVM-related allegations. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav also moderated his stance during the Bihar Assembly election, refraining from hinting at a poll boycott during the SIR process in Bihar.
Abhishek criticized the Congress for not paying enough attention to electoral roll preparation, suggesting that this negligence contributed to their defeats in states like Maharashtra and Haryana. He urged other opposition parties to unite against the Election Commission, echoing Rahul’s accusations of “vote theft” and calling for transparency and accountability from the Commission. While Rahul made public allegations, Abhishek engaged directly with the Election Commission, hinting at potential future actions through parliamentary or legal channels.
In 2025, Rahul Gandhi claimed to have evidence of electoral fraud in the 2024 general election, emphasizing “vote chori” and alleging a systematic assault on institutional frameworks. The Election Commission responded by addressing technical issues like duplications and house-number anomalies, defending the integrity of voter rolls and the revision process. Abhishek Banerjee, leading a Trinamool delegation, also accused the Commission of “vote chori” during a press briefing in Delhi, highlighting the lack of satisfactory responses.
It remains to be seen if other political parties will escalate their accusations against the Election Commission or opt for formal protests before the upcoming elections, akin to the opposition in Bihar.
