First day dharna of CM Mamata Banerjee & Avisek Banerjee at Dharmotala Metro Channel.
| Photo Credit: Debasish Bhaduri
The Bharatiya Janata Party has said the dharna (sit-in) by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee against the Special Intensive Revision on Friday (March 6) is an attempt to disrupt the SIR process. The BJP says that the CM is abdicating her constitutional responsibility by conducting a dharna against the Election Commission of India.
Former Rajya Sabha MP and BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta said that the dharna is an attempt to instigate chaos in Kolkata and the State. “This is against her constitutional responsibility… For her, the constitution has become a convenient instrument,” Mr. Dasgupta said.
He further added that the Parivartan Yatra that the BJP is conducting across the State in multiple districts is a means to crush Ms. Banerjee’s pride so the people of Bengal can see how her rule has become an “assault on justice” and help them choose another leader in the upcoming elections.
EC facing obstacles
Mr. Dasgupta said that while the EC requires the cooperation of the State government to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities, in reality, various obstacles are being created instead. He added that proper revision of the voter list is essential to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.
This comes after Ms. Banerjee held a dharna in the heart of Kolkata on Friday (March 6, 2026) to protest against the wrongful deletions of names and 60 lakh voters being left in limbo under the adjudication process of the SIR.
Ms. Banerjee and all the top leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress government took part in the dharna on a stage on Friday in Kolkata’s Esplanade area. The party’s second-in-command Abhishek Banerjee, Kolkata Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim, recently nominated Rajya Sabha MPs advocate Menaka Guruswamy, and former Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar were also on stage with Ms. Banerjee.
60 lakh still in adjudication
“If around 60 lakh names are under adjudication, then even Narendra Modi’s chair should be under adjudication,” Mr. Banerjee said from the stage.
The final voter list was published on February 28, which featured 7.04 crore voters, but it also included 60 lakh voters who are still under consideration. Their names are likely to be released through supplementary voter lists in the coming week.
The State Legislative Assembly Elections are likely to be held in April, and the dates may be officially announced in the next few days.
Published – March 06, 2026 08:57 pm IST
