Mamata Banerjee Slams Chief Election Commissioner, Calls Him ‘Arrogant and Dishonest’ After Meeting in Delhi

Kolkata/New Delhi – February 2, 2026: Ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar at the Election Commission of India headquarters in New Delhi on Monday. Accompanied by TMC leaders including National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata voiced strong criticism of the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in the state.

Speaking to reporters outside the EC office, Mamata said, “In my long political career, I have never seen a Chief Election Commissioner like him—so arrogant and dishonest. I have been a Union Minister four times and an MP seven times, yet I have never encountered such behavior. I told him plainly that no position is permanent. Everyone must leave someday. Why is West Bengal being specifically targeted? Democracy is a festival, yet 5.8 million names were removed from our voter list without giving them a chance to defend themselves.”

Concerns Over Voter List Revision
Mamata raised questions about the SIR process, highlighting alleged discrepancies in West Bengal’s voter list. “If you were to conduct SIR, proper planning should have been followed, especially in states with elections. But this was not done. In Assam, ruled by the BJP, no SIR was carried out. Yet West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are being targeted,” she said, adding that families affected by SIR faced harassment even while visiting Delhi.

The CM accused the Election Commission of appointing Special Roll Observers (SROs) and Micro-Observers solely for West Bengal, arguing that their expanded powers have sidelined local Election Registration Officers, undermining constitutional democratic principles.

Security and Delhi Visit
During her visit, heightened security was observed around Bengal Bhavan, with police and paramilitary personnel deployed along roads and at key points. Mamata clarified that her visit was to seek justice for affected families, not to stage a protest. She criticized the top officials for allegedly misusing police deployment and intimidating West Bengal residents visiting Delhi.

Mamata’s timing was strategic, coinciding with the ongoing Budget session in the national capital, when leaders of opposition parties were present. TMC sources indicated that she plans to return to Kolkata before February 5, when the state Assembly will present the Vote on Account.

Political Context
The SIR and voter list issue has become a flashpoint between the West Bengal government and the Election Commission. Mamata’s letter to the CEC questioned the authority of SROs and Micro-Observers, arguing that their powers go beyond mere supervision of SIR and infringe on federal principles and fundamental democratic rights.