‘Why no SIR in Assam?’: At SC hearing, Mamata Banerjee claims West Bengal being targeted

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that her state was being “targeted” through the special intensive revision exercise, and questioned why the process was not being carried out in Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Assam, Live Law reported.

The Election Commission is conducting a special revision of the voter list in Assam, which is similar to the usual updates to the electoral roll.

On Wednesday, the Trinamool Congress chief appeared in person before the court to argue her petition challenging the special intensive revision voter rolls being conducted by the Election Commission.

Banerjee had moved an interlocutory application seeking permission to appear and argue the case herself, Bar and Bench reported.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi is hearing the matter.

Banerjee has filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the voter roll revision exercise in the state.

In her petition, the West Bengal chief minister has raised concerns that the exercise poses an immediate and irreversible risk of mass disenfranchisement of eligible voters in the Assembly elections, Bar and Bench reported.

She has sought the court’s direction that the elections be conducted on the basis of the existing electoral rolls prepared last year.

Assembly elections in the state are expected to be held by April.

Banerjee has also asked the court to direct election authorities not to summon voters for hearings in cases involving...

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