SIR extension proves that the revision is a hurried process, says Trinamool

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has admitted its mistake by extending the deadline for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by seven days, the Trinamool Congress leadership said on Sunday (November 30, 2025), adding that the ECI should apologise to the people of West Bengal for the deaths which have allegedly occurred during the ‘hurriedly carried out’ revision.

The ECI on Sunday (November 30, 2025) announced the extension of the schedule of the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in nine States and three Union Territories by one week.

Senior West Bengal Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya and Barrackpore MP Partha Bhowmick held a press conference and said that Trinamool Congress was correct when it had pointed out that SIR was a hurriedly-held exercise.

“From the Trinamool Congress, we have been repeatedly saying that the time given by the EC for SIR is not sufficient. Earlier it took two years, a process which they [EC] were trying to complete in two months. By extending the dates of SIR, they [ECI] have admitted their fault and whatever the Trinamool Congress was saying has proved to be correct,” Ms. Bhattacharya said.

A few days ago, a delegation of Trinamool Congress MPs had met ECI officials at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi and raised five questions which included the deaths linked to alleged SIR-related stress.

The Minister also raised the same question during the press conference and said the EC should take responsibility for the deaths during SIR.

“40 people have lost their lives, they were all from West Bengal. What is the answer of EC to these deaths? Who will take this responsibility,” she asked. The deaths in West Bengal also include that of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and the Trinamool leadership has blamed SIR for the casualties.

Reacting to the extension of the SIR process, Union Minister and BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar said the decision was purely within the discretion of the poll body.

The West Bengal Congress questioned why the SIR process was extended by only seven days, and demanded an extension for a month. CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty alleged that the BJP and the Trinamool Congress have entered into a “tacit understanding” over the SIR exercise and were making only public postures on the issue.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the ECI appointed 13 special observers to take stock of the SIR process in the State. Retired IAS Officer Subrata Gupta, who has been appointed Special Roll Observer (SRO), on Sunday (November 30, 2025) visited South 24 Parganas district to review the progress. “I am here to oversee whether the SIR process is being followed as per the directive of the ECI. There are a few complaints, and we will cross-check them,” Mr. Gupta said.