TMC's Abhishek Banerjee Challenges BJP Over 'Backdoor NRC' Claims

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee criticized the BJP and Election Commission for the Special Intensive Revision of Bengal’s electoral rolls, alleging it is a 'backdoor NRC' for the 2026 polls. Banerjee accused the BJP of manipulating voter lists and warned of massive protests if eligible voters are removed.

In a fiery press conference, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee lashed out at the BJP-led Centre and the Election Commission of India (ECI) for allegedly orchestrating a 'backdoor NRC' through a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The exercise, he argued, is aimed at disenfranchising genuine voters ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Banerjee sharply criticized the ECI for acting as an 'agency of the BJP,' warning that constitutional institutions will endure beyond any government regime. He cautioned Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar against evading accountability when political tides turn, urging transparency and fairness in the electoral process.

He challenged the narrative surrounding infiltration, pointing out discrepancies in voter name deletions, and accused the Centre of biased developmental allocations. Despite the heated discourse, Banerjee expressed confidence in the TMC's increasing seat tally in future elections, vowing that their political perseverance will outlast these obstacles.