Abhishek Banerjee Shares EC Observers’ WhatsApp Screenshots, Alleges Plot To Delete 30 Lakh Names

Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee has stepped up his attack on the Election Commission, sharing purported screenshots from a WhatsApp group of poll observers and alleging that they raise questions over a plan to delete 30 lakh names from electoral rolls.

Banerjee, the Diamond Harbour MP, directly questioned Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the functioning of the poll panel amid the continuing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The screenshots, which Banerjee said date back to April, purportedly show members of an observers’ group questioning why Election Commission instructions on the same issue appeared to differ from state to state. One exchange reportedly questioned changes in the role of General Observers, with a member saying they had initially been told their role was limited to monitoring but were subsequently being asked to take on wider responsibilities in West Bengal.

Another message reportedly questioned instructions concerning interactions with the Chief Electoral Officer, while a separate exchange raised objections over a meeting involving a state government official and called for a “fair” CEO to be appointed.

Banerjee has presented the exchanges as raising questions about the electoral-roll revision process and an alleged plan to remove 30 lakh names. However, the screenshots do not themselves establish that 30 lakh voters were targeted for deletion. Their authenticity and full context have also not been independently verified.

The allegations come amid a wider controversy over the functioning of the Election Commission. A recent Indian Express report said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions concerning electoral-roll revision, including voter deletions and additions, changes to forms and access to voter data.

The Election Commission has rejected suggestions of a split within the three-member body, maintaining that decisions on SIR were taken unanimously and that differing views during institutional deliberations are part of normal decision-making.

Banerjee has alleged that genuine voters were selectively removed in West Bengal, Haryana and Bihar, and has demanded an independent inquiry under Supreme Court supervision. He has also called for Kumar’s arrest.

The BJP has rejected the allegations, leaving the dispute centred on the conduct of SIR, the handling of voter rolls and the evidence being cited by the parties.