A viral video showing a Trinamool Congress (TMC)leader disrupting a voter list hearing has added fresh momentum to the political confrontation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The video widely circulated on social media is said to have been recorded in Pandua in the Hooghly district and shows the TMC’s local block president, Sanjog Ghosh alleging confronting an electoral officer during a hearing on claims and objections to the draft voter’s list.
The video clip was shared online by Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, who mentioned that the ruling party was attempting to derail the revision exercise. The Pandua block president was seen threatening the electoral officer and was also instigating local residents to disrupt the hearing process, alleged Adhikari in his X post. This incident comes amid several reports of disruptions at hearing centres across the state since the SIR process started.
Watch video here
তৃণমূল পশ্চিমবঙ্গে ভোটার তালিকায় নিবিড় সংশোধন(SIR)এর কাজ কখনোই সুষ্ঠুভাবে সম্পন্ন করতে দেবে না, কারণ স্বচ্ছ ভোটার তালিকা হলে তৃণমূলের কপালে অশেষ দুঃখ আছে সেটা তৃণমূলের ছোটো বড়ো মেজো সেজো সব নেতৃত্বরাই জানে।
নীচের ভিডিওটা দেখুন, পাণ্ডুয়ার তৃণমূল ব্লক সভাপতি সংযোগ ঘোষ কি ভাবে… pic.twitter.com/UhsUffBtqm
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) January 31, 2026
Election Commission to meet Mamata Banerjee-led TMC delegation next week
Even as the controversy escalates, the Election Commission of India is set to meet a delegation of TMC leaders led by Mamata Banerjee on February 2, as per EC official statement. The meeting follows allegations by the TMC that the SIR is being held in a biased manner. Banerjee has also raised questions on the verification of around 1.5 crore electoral rolls flagged for discrepancies or for not being mapped to the state’s last intensive revision in 2002.
Former India footballer Mehtab Hossain and Jhulan Goswami receive SIR notices
The SIR process has also drawn attention after famous sportspersons were issued notices. Former India footballer Mehtab Hossain, who captained both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, was called for a hearing. He also questioned why athletes who have represented the country were asked to establish their citizenship, as per a report by PTI.
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In similar manner, former India women’s cricket team captain Jhulan Goswami and her two siblings were also summoned over a discrepancy in their father’s name across documents. Trinamool MLA Humayun Kabir, a former IPS officer, stated he received a notice because his name was not on the 2002 voter list. He stated, “It is surprising that I have served in the police for 31 years and abroad on a US mission but was still served the notice,” Kabir stated, as quoted by India Today.
ALSO READ‘SIR work pressure pushed him into depression’: Family of West Bengal BLO who died by suicide
More BLO suicides reported during the SIR process
Meanwhile, concerns have also been raised over the human cost of the exercise. A booth-level officer died by suicide earlier this month, taking the number of such cases to nine since the SIR started in November last year. Police said that the latest victim was found at his residence in the city’s Mukundapur area.
Amit Shah defends SIR, slams TMC
Amid the backlash, Union Home Minister Amit Shah defended the exercise, stating, “Mamata Banerjee can oppose SIR as much as she wants but it will conducted to weed out infiltrators.” While addressing the BJP workers, Shah accused the TMC government of safeguarding illegal migrants for electoral gains and mentioned that voter list was necessary for national security. |