INDIA bloc backs Mamata Banerjee’s call for protest against Election Commission over SIR

The INDIA bloc has endorsed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s call to stage a massive protest outside the Election Commission of India’s office in New Delhi if legitimate voters are excluded during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.

Addressing party workers in Kolkata on July 21, Banerjee warned that the Trinamul Congress would demonstrate in front of the EC office if the poll panel tampers with the voter list.

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At a meeting of the INDIA bloc partners on Thursday morning, Trinamul Congress leader in the Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien, conveyed Mamata Banerjee’s decision that opposition parties would demonstrate outside the Election Commission of India’s office and stage a sit-in protest.

The opposition also raised strong objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They continue to stage daily protests in Parliament, raising slogans against SIR. The Trinamul Congress has joined these demonstrations alongside Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

As usual, the INDIA bloc’s parliamentary leaders met on Thursday morning in the office of the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge. During the meeting, Trinamul Congress leader Derek O’Brien presented Mamata Banerjee’s proposal in the presence of Rahul Gandhi. The proposal—to stage a protest in front of the Election Commission of India’s office—was accepted by all INDIA bloc partners. It was decided that MPs from the alliance would participate in the demonstration. Derek O’Brien indicated that the ‘gherao’ could take place next Wednesday or Thursday.

Notably, on Wednesday, while speaking from the Parliament premises, Trinamul Congress MP and party’s ‘second-in-command’ Abhishek Banerjee remarked, “SIR stands for Silent Invisible Rigging.” In preparation for the upcoming demonstration and sit-in protest outside the Election Commission, Trinamool MPs have printed posters highlighting this message. They claim that other INDIA bloc parties will also use these posters during the protest.