(File photo) NEW DELHI: TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday criticised the Election Commission for “failing to provide answers” after a marathon meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on issues surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. Abhishek Banerjee said the two-and-a-half hour discussion, which touched on eight to ten concerns raised by his party, yielded “no concrete answer to anything” apart from clarity on just two or three points. He added that attempts to question the Commission on the SIR were repeatedly diverted to unrelated topics such as citizenship.”We discussed eight to ten issues. The meeting started at 12:00 PM, and it lasted two and a half hours. Last time, a month ago, on November 28th, a delegation of 10 people from our party came here. We asked the Election Commission five questions, but we didn’t receive a single precise answer to any of them,” Banerjee said.He alleged selective information leaks about the previous meeting. “That same night, the Election Commission selectively leaked information to some journalists, claiming that they had answered every question. Immediately afterwards, I tweeted that the Trinamool Congress has digital evidence and that the Election Commission did not provide a single answer to any of our questions last time… This time, except for two or three points, we didn’t get any clarity on anything. When I ask them about the SIR, they shift the topic to citizenship. There was no concrete answer to anything…”The comments came after a ten-member delegation of TMC met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi. The delegation was led by TMC National General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee. The meeting was held amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, an exercise that has led to a standoff between the TMC-led state government and the Centre.According to the party, the delegation included Rajya Sabha chief whip Md Nadimul Haque, MPs Derek O’Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Mamata Thakur, Saket Gokhale and Ritabrata Banerjee, along with senior leaders Pradip Mazumdar, Chandrima Bhattacharya and Manas Bhunia.More than 58.2 lakh names were deleted during the SIR enumeration process. The Election Commission of India published the draft electoral roll for the state on 16 December. The claims and objections period will run until 15 January 2026, with the final voter list scheduled for release on 14 February 2026.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosArmy Trains Village Defence Guards In J&K In Automatic Rifles, Self-Defence | WatchLeT Deputy Saifullah Kasuri Admits India Hit Terror Camps, Threatens Kashmir After Op Sindoor StrikeTwist in Osman Hadi Murder Case: Prime Accused Blames Jamaat From Dubai, Clears India’s Role‘Remove 10-Minute Delivery Option’: Gig Workers Launch Nationwide Strike On New Year’s EvePM Modi Says 2025 Marked by India’s Commitment to ReformsHasina Extradition Demand May Redefine India Bangladesh Ties Journalist Flags Tarique Rahman’s Plans”To Build Peace That Lasts”: China Claims Credit for India-Pakistan Conflict, Follows TrumpSecurity Forces Launch Cordon-And-Search Operations In Kishtwar, Doda and PoonchJaishankar To Attend Khaleda Zia’s Funeral In Dhaka Amid Strained India-Bangladesh TiesDRDO Successfully Tests Pinaka Long-Range Guided Rocket In Odisha, To Be Inducted In Indian Army123PhotostoriesPune’s Next Game-Changer: University Road Flyover Rises To Untangle One Of The City’s Worst Traffic Knots10 weird new year rituals you won’t believe existHow to make street-style Egg Chowmein for New Year eve partyChennai’s Underground Push: TBM Melagiri Punches Through Beneath Perambur’s Railway MazeThe science of longevity: Building a longer and healthier life one habit at a timeFrom Akshaye Khanna’s FA9LA memes to Ram Charan’s ‘Peddi’ dance and the Coldplay kiss-cam moment: How 2025 turned pop culture into a nonstop viral loopHow the right words can turn mistakes into learning momentsFrom Jamaica’s J-type diabetes to WHO’s reversal: A long-ignored form of diabetes gets official recognitionTV child actors who changed careers later: Erik Per Sullivan, Angus T. 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NEW DELHI: TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday criticised the Election Commission for “failing to provide answers” after a marathon meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on issues surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. Abhishek Banerjee said the two-and-a-half hour discussion, which touched on eight to ten concerns raised by his party, yielded “no concrete answer to anything” apart from clarity on just two or three points. He added that attempts to question the Commission on the SIR were repeatedly diverted to unrelated topics such as citizenship.“We discussed eight to ten issues. The meeting started at 12:00 PM, and it lasted two and a half hours. Last time, a month ago, on November 28th, a delegation of 10 people from our party came here. We asked the Election Commission five questions, but we didn’t receive a single precise answer to any of them,” Banerjee said.He alleged selective information leaks about the previous meeting. “That same night, the Election Commission selectively leaked information to some journalists, claiming that they had answered every question. Immediately afterwards, I tweeted that the Trinamool Congress has digital evidence and that the Election Commission did not provide a single answer to any of our questions last time… This time, except for two or three points, we didn’t get any clarity on anything. When I ask them about the SIR, they shift the topic to citizenship. There was no concrete answer to anything…”The comments came after a ten-member delegation of TMC met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi. The delegation was led by TMC National General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee. The meeting was held amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, an exercise that has led to a standoff between the TMC-led state government and the Centre.According to the party, the delegation included Rajya Sabha chief whip Md Nadimul Haque, MPs Derek O’Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Mamata Thakur, Saket Gokhale and Ritabrata Banerjee, along with senior leaders Pradip Mazumdar, Chandrima Bhattacharya and Manas Bhunia.More than 58.2 lakh names were deleted during the SIR enumeration process. The Election Commission of India published the draft electoral roll for the state on 16 December. The claims and objections period will run until 15 January 2026, with the final voter list scheduled for release on 14 February 2026.
