KOLKATA, Feb 5: West Bengal chief minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday became the first sitting CM to personally argue her own petition before the Supreme Court, urging it to "protect democracy" and "people's lives", as the court sought a response from the Election Commission of India (ECI) on withdrawing notices to millions of people over minor spelling variations and dialect-based discrepancies during the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in her state.
Making a dramatic appearance in a white saree and a black scarf, Banerjee made an impassioned 15-minute intervention before the bench, quoting from Rabindranath Tagore and describing ECI as a "WhatsApp Commission". (PTI)
Making a dramatic appearance in a white saree and a black scarf, Banerjee made an impassioned 15-minute intervention before the bench, quoting from Rabindranath Tagore and describing ECI as a "WhatsApp Commission".
In the packed courtroom, the CM repeatedly stressed that she was not fighting for her party, but for voters who risk being struck off the rolls because of clerical and linguistic inconsistencies.
"I belong to that state...When justice is crying behind closed doors, we felt we are not getting justice anywhere. I am not fighting for my party… Please protect democracy…Please protect people's lives…" Banerjee told the court in English, as she accused ECI of targeting voters in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 elections. "HT
