Kolkata: Two days before the publication of the final draft of the voter list following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Kolkata witnessed a strong show of dissent. On February 26, Civil Society Against SIR organised a public demonstration in the heart of the city, demanding that the exercise be scrapped, calling it “unconstitutional, inhuman and a threat to genuine voters.”
The protest comes amid legal developments, with the Supreme Court directing that a supplementary list be released along with the final draft of the revised electoral roll. However, activists claim that there is still no clarity on the timeline for the publication of the supplementary list, creating uncertainty among voters ahead of the final draft release.
Activists, students, hawkers’ representatives and concerned citizens gathered in front of the Tea Board in central Kolkata, holding placards and raising slogans against what they described as an arbitrary and exclusionary process. Protesters alleged that the SIR drive has created fear among ordinary voters, particularly marginalised communities, and risks wrongful deletions from the electoral rolls.
After brief speeches, the gathering marched peacefully towards the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, under police escort. A three-member delegation—Shaktiman Ghosh, head of the Hawkers Sangram Committee, Manzar Jameel, and Md. Rafay Mahmood Siddiqui—was allowed to meet Additional CEO Arindam Niyogi and submit a memorandum outlining their objections and demands.
According to members of the delegation, the Additional CEO gave them a patient hearing and assured that their concerns would be forwarded to higher authorities. The protest concluded without any untoward incident.
Concerns Over Form 7 and Voter Harassment
During the meeting, Rafay Siddiqui raised specific concerns regarding alleged discrepancies in Form 7, the form used to object to a name on the electoral roll. He claimed that under the current process, “unknown senders” can file objections declaring individuals as non-citizens, following which the Election Commission issues notices to those voters. Activists argue that such provisions can be misused to harass genuine citizens and create an atmosphere of suspicion.
Manzar Jameel, speaking after the meeting, struck a sharper tone. He alleged that more than 134 SIR-related workers and voters have died in Bengal in recent months, linking the figure to stress and anxiety caused by the revision process. He further accused the Election Commission of acting under political pressure, claiming that the exercise benefits the BJP. These allegations, however, have not been officially responded to by the Commission.
Civil Society Against SIR has maintained that the revision process is not only unnecessary but also burdensome for citizens already grappling with economic challenges. Members argue that repeated document verification, public notices and objections disproportionately affect daily wage earners, migrant workers and elderly voters.
Democracy, Accountability and Public Discourse
The February 26 rally followed a press conference held on February 23 at the Kolkata Press Club, where several social activists criticised the SIR process as a drain on public funds and an avoidable exercise in what they called the world’s largest democracy. Speakers argued that democratic legitimacy rests not merely on periodic elections but on transparency, accountability and informed public debate.
Academic Himadri Mukherjee, said during the rally that institutions are human creations and therefore subject to scrutiny. “No parliament, no office, no authority is beyond accountability,” adding that democracy thrives on rational, accessible and fearless public discourse.
As the final draft of the revised voter list approaches, Civil Society Against SIR has vowed to continue its campaign. “Our fight to save genuine voters will continue,” members said, signalling that the debate over the SIR process is far from over in West Bengal.
