West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Slams Election Commission Over Bihar Voter List Revision, Calls It an “NRC-like Conspiracy”

A major political storm has erupted after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI) over its new voter list revision process, particularly in Bihar. Banerjee has accused the Commission of orchestrating a conspiracy similar to the National Register of Citizens (NRC), warning that the move could soon be extended nationwide.

Targeting the New Voter List Process

The Election Commission has recently launched a special intensive voter list revision campaign in Bihar. The stated objective is to remove illegal foreign nationals from the voter rolls and to prepare an accurate and reliable list of voters. However, Mamata Banerjee has taken sharp aim at this process, claiming that it is being used as a tool to disenfranchise the poor, migrant workers, and young voters.

Banerjee alleged that the Election Commission has asked for parents’ birth certificates as a requirement for registering names in the voter list. While this rule is currently being implemented in Bihar, Banerjee fears it is only a matter of time before it is enforced across all states, with Bengal being the main target.

“NRC-like Process Under the Guise of Bihar Elections”

According to Banerjee, the Election Commission’s move is a deliberate attempt to implement an NRC-like process across the country under the pretext of the Bihar elections. She claimed that the central government and the Election Commission are afraid of migrant workers and poor voters in Bengal, and are intentionally trying to strip them and the youth of their voting rights.

Banerjee directly questioned the Election Commission: “Does the younger generation not have the right to vote?” She asserted that this new policy is designed to rob the poor and the youth of their democratic rights.

Political Reactions and Implications

The controversy has sparked heated debate, with Banerjee reiterating her stance that the real aim is to target Bengal, where a large population of migrant workers and economically weaker voters reside. She warned that such measures would lead to widespread disenfranchisement and social unrest.

As the Election Commission continues its voter list revision campaign, the political battle over voter rights and citizenship documentation is expected to intensify, with significant implications for upcoming state and national elections.