The political atmosphere in West Bengal has reached a fever pitch following allegations of systemic disenfranchisement in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has formally approached the Supreme Court of India, seeking an immediate halt to the process and an extension of the deadlines, citing widespread “illegalities” and technical manipulation.
The Amartya Sen Summons: A “Software Error”
The controversy took a sensational turn on Tuesday when it emerged that Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen, alongside other public figures like cricketer Mohammed Shami, had been served notices by the Election Commission (EC) to appear for physical hearings.
Addressing a crowd in Birbhum, TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee condemned the move as a deliberate attempt to intimidate the state’s intellectual and cultural icons. In response to the growing outcry, the Election Commission issued a late-evening clarification, attributing the summons to a “software glitch.” The EC explained that a technical error in the automated system flagged discrepancies in the applications, but confirmed that Professor Sen would not be required to travel; instead, officials would visit his residence to resolve the matter.
Supreme Court Demands and Legal Grounds
The TMC’s petition, spearheaded by Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien, argues that the current revision process is “arbitrary and opaque.” The party alleges that the EC has been issuing critical directives via WhatsApp, bypassing formal administrative protocols and creating a lack of accountability.
Table: TMC’s Core Demands in the Supreme Court
| Issue Category | Specific Relief Sought |
| Deadlines | Extend the ‘Claims and Objections’ period beyond 15 January. |
| Stay Order | Halt the publication of the final list scheduled for 15 February. |
| Accessibility | Ensure door-to-door verification for the elderly and disabled. |
| Documentation | Accept Panchayat residential certificates as valid proof of address. |
| Digital Integrity | Rectify “flawed mapping” that excludes eligible voters. |
War of Words: Conspiracy vs. Verification
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has intensified her criticism, suggesting that the software used by the EC was influenced by the BJP’s IT cell—a claim that has further polarised the debate. “They are using digital tools to delete the names of legitimate voters who support us,” she alleged during a recent briefing.
Conversely, the Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, has defended the revision process, describing it as a necessary “clean-up” to remove illegal residents and “fake voters” from the rolls. Adhikari accused the TMC of creating a “theatrical distraction” to prevent the commission from fulfilling its constitutional duty.
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the case, the outcome will have profound implications for the democratic process in West Bengal, particularly with the 2026 electoral cycle looming.