"Vanish Kumar must go": Mamata Banerjee demands CEC resignation
Mamata Banerjee calls for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's removal, accusing him of vanishing voter names during the Special Intensive Revision process.
In a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has renewed her demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Addressing a massive rally in Hooghly on Saturday, Banerjee accused the CEC of orchestrating the removal of legitimate voters from electoral rolls through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
Using a biting play on words, Banerjee referred to the Chief Election Commissioner as "Vanish Kumar," alleging that he is responsible for the "vanishing" of voters' names from the official lists. She vowed that her party would continue to protest until the discrepancies are rectified and justice is served for the disenfranchised citizens.
Demands for Compensation and Roll Restoration
The Trinamool Congress leader did not stop at calling for resignations; she also laid out specific demands to address the fallout of the SIR exercise. Banerjee insisted that the original voter lists must be restored immediately. Furthermore, she called upon the government to provide compensation to those individuals who suffered losses due to being unlisted from the electoral rolls.
"Vanish Kumar must go; we will protest till the last time for this issue," Banerjee declared during her speech. "SIR list must back; those whose names were unlisted, govt should give compensation for loss."
The Internal Rift: Controversy Surrounding the SIR Process
The political firestorm follows a report suggesting significant internal friction within the Election Commission. According to reports, the Special Intensive Revision process has been a point of intense contention among the commission's members. It is alleged that two of the three Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, raised objections at least 14 times over the past 10 months regarding decisions and orders issued without their prior knowledge.
While the Opposition—including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Left parties—has used these reports to question the transparency and accountability of the electoral body, the Election Commission has defended its conduct. The ECI maintained that:
- Internal technical notes, queries, and suggestions are standard components of a multi-member constitutional body's functioning.
- All final decisions regarding the SIR exercise were reached unanimously.
- Every major decision carried the formal approval of all three commissioners.
Allegations of Obstruction and Political Coordination
Beyond the electoral row, Banerjee highlighted the difficulties she faced while attempting to reach the rally. She alleged that deliberate attempts were made to obstruct her movement, citing heavy traffic jams in Uttarpara and efforts to prevent supporters from attending the program. She also touched upon the arrest of approximately 200 party workers and alleged threats made against their homes.
Looking toward the broader political landscape, Banerjee mentioned her communication with Rahul Gandhi regarding the future of the opposition coalition. She indicated that the INDIA alliance is likely to schedule a significant meeting around September 30 to discuss their collective strategy.