MAMATA RENEWS OPPOSITION UNITY CALL AMID SIR ROW, WARNS BJP AND EC

September 26, 2026

KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has renewed her call for Opposition parties to coordinate their response to the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, while warning the BJP and the poll panel against what she described as attempts to undermine democratic rights. Addressing a rally in Serampore on Saturday, Banerjee said, “You took Bengal; we will take Delhi.”

Banerjee said she had spoken to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and that an INDIA bloc meeting was likely to be held at Delhi’s Constitution Club on September 30. The proposed meeting is expected to discuss concerns surrounding the Election Commission, SIR and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The TMC chief also indicated a willingness to work with parties despite longstanding ideological differences. Her outreach comes as the TMC and CPI(M), political rivals in Bengal, have opened communication over concerns related to the electoral process. CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby has also sought coordination among Opposition parties on the issue.

Banerjee further alleged that BJP supporters obstructed routes to the Serampore rally and condemned an earlier attack on TMC leader Kunal Ghosh’s vehicle. The BJP has rejected allegations of responsibility for the attack. Banerjee also reiterated her concerns over the SIR exercise and the functioning of the Election Commission.

The Election Commission has maintained that SIR is intended to ensure the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls and has said that differences and observations within a multi-member commission form part of normal institutional deliberations.