‘This is war’: Abhishek tells BLAs to attend SIR hearings
Times of India | 29 December 2025
Kolkata: "This is war, and we won't cede an inch," said Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday while addressing over one lakh party workers engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. He called upon them to attend SIR hearings and demand written orders if barred.
Banerjee also made a strong pitch for online SIR hearings for people working outside Bengal who aren't able to return home, stressing that if the Supreme Court and high courts can conduct online hearings, why can't the EC. The Diamond Harbour MP is scheduled to lead a party delegation to Delhi to meet CEC Gyanesh Kumar on Dec 31.
Addressing Trinamool's BLA-2s, Banerjee said, "It's because of you BJP won't succeed in its plans. We have to continue the fight for six more weeks. BJP's Delhi netas want to starve Bengal. BJP's Bengal netas said 10 million names would be removed. Bengal had the fewest deletions in the SIR process (compared to the 12 other states/Union territories where SIR was conducted)."
"The number of names removed is nearly the same as the number that would have been removed during the annual summary revision of the voter list. For the next month-and-a-half, you must be shadow companions to booth-level officers (BLOs). The party war room should remain active," Banerjee added.
"I heard BLA-2s will not be allowed to stay in SIR hearings. I am saying you will stay, no matter what anyone else says, BLA-2s will be there on behalf of Trinamool. If obstructed, ask them to show written guidelines," he said, adding, "Why won't they let you enter. Is this to provide an advantage to BJP because it doesn't have enough people?"
Demanding virtual hearings for migrant workers, Banerjee said, "There is no rule stating migrant workers have to be present in person. Is this a joke? Will EC provide them travel expenses. If they have to be present in person, let EC give them two months' salary. Otherwise, let EC give it in writing and we will file a case."
On Sunday, several Trinamool seniors met BLAs who were present at hearings. Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim met BLAs in Chetla and Survey Building in Alipore. MLA Sashi Panja was seen visiting SIR hearing centres in Shyampukur.
Panja said, "The biggest issue is that every hearing notice doesn't specify the reason. People are being harassed in the name of hearings and they are utterly confused about documents they need to bring."
TMC MP Partha Bhowmik said EC has summoned the elderly and ailing who were categorised as "unmapped" due to discrepancies in their enumeration forms. Bhowmik said: "This is nothing short of torture. EC sends poll personnel to homes of the elderly due to mobility issues (during election). Why couldn't the same procedure be followed in this case?"