Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee has sparked a fresh political row in West Bengal after daring Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Suvendu Adhikari and Sukanta Majumdar to visit Dankuni without their CISF security cover. His challenge came amid rising tensions over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
Speaking at a public event, Banerjee said that if the BJP leaders truly wanted to prove their connection with the people, they should meet citizens without police protection. “Let’s see whether they can even return from there or not,” he said, adding, “Come, Sukanta and Suvendu, bring your men; we will bring ours too. Come without the police — we’ll be there without police as well.”
The remarks quickly set off political reactions across Bengal. Banerjee accused BJP leaders of “pretending to connect with the people” while “hiding behind security personnel.” He claimed they “trust their guards more than they trust the people,” suggesting they were afraid to face the public directly.
The comments come as the Election Commission of India (ECI) begins the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists across 12 states, including West Bengal. The process, which runs from November 4 to December 4, 2025, involves Block Level Officers visiting homes to verify voter details, update forms, and remove duplicate or ineligible names. The final voter roll is expected by February 2026, ahead of the state assembly elections.
The SIR exercise has become a major political flashpoint. The TMC has accused the BJP of using it to intimidate voters and manipulate electoral rolls, while the BJP insists it is a routine procedure.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to lead a protest march in Kolkata on November 4, along with TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, to oppose what the party calls an “undemocratic revision drive.”
With Kalyan Banerjee’s fiery challenge and the SIR controversy heating up, political tensions in Bengal are rising once again — setting the stage for another stormy battle between the TMC and BJP.
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