Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday called India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar "a puppet" of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, slamming the poll body over Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Addressing a rally in Jhargram, Mamata slammed the ECI for ordering the suspension of West Bengal government officers over discrepancies in electoral rolls.

The Chief Minister also accused Shah of using the ECI for political vendetta in poll-bound West Bengal.

Mamata said, "Till the day of nomination filing, they continue to remove names. The Chief Election Commissioner, with due respect to the chair, is a puppet in the hands of Amit Shah. He used to be the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation. When we rise, we will finish this politically and democratically."

"The conspiracy of implementing NRC through the backdoor will not be tolerated. We will not let this happen. When BJP leaders come here, ask them to first answer our questions, then they can peddle their lies. If you think that just because you have money, you can snatch away my rights, then that will not happen," she added.

Despite the ECI's order, the Chief Minister on Wednesday cleared her administration won't allow such steps to be taken.

She asked the officers to not feel afraid and called the poll body Shah's "bonded labourers".

"In the name of the voter list, BJP wants to form a party list. Not a single name should be removed. Forget the party or political party, you must protect your own identity. Government officials are being threatened. Yesterday, two officers were sent notices and suspended. The election has not even been announced yet.

"Under which law can you send notices and suspend people? They are saying FIRs will be filed. This will not happen. I will not allow this. There is no need to be afraid," the Chief Minister said.

"They are threatening officers and police. It is our responsibility to protect you. We will give our lives to keep you safe. Do not worry or be hopeless. You all come here for two months during the elections and then go back like migratory birds.

"There is still a long time for elections. And already, BJP’s bonded labourers have started suspending people. Are you acting as Amit Shah’s agents while sitting in your chairs? And the Home Minister thinks that whatever he says will happen and nothing else will. Who are you?"

ECI suspends four Bengal govt officers for including fictitious voters in electoral rolls

The ECI on Tuesday suspended four West Bengal government officers for allegedly including fictitious voters in electoral rolls amid confrontation between the State and Centre over SIR.

Among four, two are Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and the other two are Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AERO).

The ECI has directed the West Bengal Chief Secretary to file a First Information Report (FIR) against the four officers and a data entry operator.

The discrepancies have emerged from Baruipur Purba and Moyna assembly constituencies.

In its letter to the Chief Secretary, the ECI said it was informed by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal about the inclusion of fictitious voters in the electoral roll in the two constituencies.

"I am to state that the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal has forwarded a report vide his mail dated 29.07.2025 informing about the wrongful addition of names in the electoral rolls by EROs and AEROs of AC No. 137 – Baruipur Purba (District – South 24 Parganas) and AC No. 206 – Moyna (District – Purba Medinipur)...," the ECI said in the letter to the Chief Secretary.

"The Commission has taken serious note of the grave lapses committed by the officers in view of the provisions quoted above and has decided that following action shall be taken against the officers with immediate effect...," the letter reads.