EC to Meet Trinamool Congress Leaders Amidst Rising Concerns Over SIR Drive in West Bengal
The Statesman | 26 November 2025
The Chief Election Commission (CEC) of India has agreed to meet leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on November 28 at 11 AM, signalling a crucial dialogue amid mounting tension over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. This step is part of the Election Commission’s ongoing efforts to engage with political parties and address their concerns ahead of upcoming elections.
The decision follows a series of letters from top TMC leadership, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has raised serious questions about the management and human cost of the SIR exercise. On November 24, 2025, Banerjee wrote to CEC Gyanesh Kumar, questioning whether the Election Commission’s initiatives were being undertaken “at the behest of a political party to serve vested interests.” This was her second letter in recent days; in an earlier letter dated November 20, she had urged the Commission to halt the SIR, citing unbearable strain and distress, including suicides among Booth Level Officers (BLOs) involved in the process.
In response to concerns from TMC MPs, including Derek O’Brien, the CEC has also referred the matter to the panel responsible for strengthening communication with political parties. The upcoming meeting with TMC leaders reflects the Commission’s commitment to maintaining open and transparent channels of communication with all stakeholders to ensure the integrity of elections.
While the specific agenda is not mentioned in the CEC’s letter to the TMC leaders, it is expected that the TMC leaders will prominently raise the issue of deaths of BLOs engaged in carrying out the SIR exercise in West Bengal, while the poll panel will focus on election preparations, the conduct of the SIR, and addressing party-specific grievances.
The engagement is being closely monitored, given TMC’s significant influence in West Bengal and its active role in recent electoral debates. The meeting underscores the delicate balance the Election Commission must maintain between enforcing electoral reforms and addressing political sensitivities to uphold the democratic process.