Didi: BJP Lists Another 1.36 Crore Voters, Blackmailing CEC for Deletion

 Kolkata: In an explosive claim, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused the BJP of preparing a fresh list of around 1.36 crores of voters for deletion through the Election Commission (EC) on the pretext of ‘logical discrepancies' after delisting more than 50 lakh voters in the special intensive revision (SIR).

Making a veiled reference to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Ms Banerjee even alleged his “blackmail” by BJP to execute its plan. She also complained that an Indian Army officer, now serving at the Eastern Command headquarters: Fort William, has been engaged in the SIR while working for BJP.

Attacking BJP and the EC over the SIR, the CM said at the state secretariat Nabanna, “Earlier around 54 lakh voters’ names were deleted using AI and without giving them their right to defend themselves. Many of them are genuine and women voters. No one knew whose names were dropped. No one also got that list as it did not come out.”

She added, “Logical discrepancies did not exist in SIR earlier and any law. This is a brainchild of the slaves. Now a new list of 1.33-1.36 crores voters has been drafted. No party, except the BJP, has it.” Ms Banerjee then pointed finger at Mr Kumar and his elder daughter Medha Rupam and her husband Manish Bansal, who are also IAS officers, serving as the district magistrates (DM) at Kasganj and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

“Is the EC a slave of BJP or savior of democracy? We want him to work as a saviour of democracy instead of his family. We have heard that he is being blackmailed by someone also. Files are moving from one place to another because there are DMs in his family also. This is a game that has been underway. A money game is also on,” the CM argued.

She later said, “A few days ago the Army invited some of you to its office for talks. I see nothing wrong in it. I respect them like all other forces. But I have never seen this in my life. I just got information. A commandant posted at Fort William is engaged in SIR work. He is also working for BJP. I request you with folded hands: Please don't do it.”

Further, the Trinamul Congress supremo mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to the state this weekend to inaugurate central projects, including new train services, ahead of the Assembly Election.

Without taking Mr Modi’s name, she said, “Inauguration comes to mind before polls. Post-poll, all funds get stopped. A ring is created to hold back the funds. What are you going to inaugurate? Everything, from Maldah to Jalpaiguri and Jalpaiguri to Guwahati, is political. These places are poll-bound. Moreover, these are shuttles which carry no importance.”