Kolkata, September 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise was aimed at helping the BJP gain political control of the state, and called for a united opposition campaign against the process and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Addressing a public meeting in Sreerampore in Hooghly district, Banerjee said she had questioned the roles of Kumar and the Election Commission’s Information Technology chief, Seema Khanna, since the beginning of the SIR exercise.
Her remarks came amid a wider political controversy over reports of differences within the Election Commission regarding decisions connected with SIR. The poll panel has maintained that decisions concerning the exercise were taken unanimously.
Banerjee referred to the CEC as “Vanish Kumar” and said her movement with other Opposition parties would continue until he resigned or was removed from office.
“Just as we caught the tricks of ‘Vanish Kumar’, we will similarly catch the others behind such wrongdoings. ‘Vanish Kumar’ must go. Until he goes, our united movement will continue,” she said.
She said Opposition parties were coming together nationally to seek Kumar’s removal and referred to her recent conversation with CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby. Banerjee said political differences should not come in the way when parties were confronting what they considered a common issue.
“We will have to fight this issue together,” she said, referring to the need for Opposition unity.
Banerjee also referred to the proposed INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi on September 30, saying parties would have to work together to “restore democracy”. The outreach to the CPI(M) comes amid reports that the TMC and the Left party have opened communication channels over concerns surrounding the Election Commission and SIR.
She also alleged that West Bengal Police had detained TMC supporters from their homes in Serampore ahead of her meeting to prevent them from attending the event.
“The police are not my enemies. Their job is to protect people. But what are they doing today? Last night, they found and arrested Trinamool supporters from their houses in Serampore to prevent anyone from coming to my meeting,” Banerjee alleged.
Banerjee has previously demanded the arrest of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and fresh elections in Bengal using pre-SIR electoral rolls, allegations that have been rejected or disputed by the Election Commission and criticised by the BJP.
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