Mamata Banerjee Ends Anti-SIR Sit-in Protest, Says Movement for Justice Will Continue

Kolkata, March 2026 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday called off her indefinite sit-in protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls at Esplanade in Kolkata, bringing to an end a demonstration that began on February 6.

Announcing the decision in the evening, the Chief Minister said the protest was being halted in view of the latest observations of the Supreme Court, which she claimed had opened the door for further legal recourse and justice. She also said that she had decided to withdraw the agitation following a request from Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

Addressing supporters and party workers, Mamata Banerjee said she was prepared to continue the protest for many more days if necessary. She recalled her earlier hunger strike during the Singur land acquisition movement in Hooghly district, which lasted for 26 days.

“I could have continued the sit-in for even 50 days if I wished. In the past, I went on a 26-day hunger strike during the Singur agitation. But since the Supreme Court’s observations on the SIR issue have opened a path for justice, and after Abhishek Banerjee requested me to do so, I have decided to halt the protest,” she said.

However, the Chief Minister made it clear that the political and legal fight against the Special Intensive Revision process would continue. She asserted that the movement would persist until the people of the state receive what she described as “full justice.”

Banerjee pointed out that the next hearing in the matter in the Supreme Court is scheduled for March 25, adding that the dates for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections could possibly be announced by March 15.

“Once the matter is before the Supreme Court, the issue will remain alive. The observations made by the apex court today were based on suggestions we had put forward,” she claimed.

The Chief Minister also levelled allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing the poll body of attempting to delay the state’s Assembly elections. She specifically criticised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the commission’s actions were raising concerns about the electoral process.

According to Banerjee, the Supreme Court had indicated that the West Bengal case could be treated as a special matter. She noted that the court has the authority to allow the inclusion of voter names in electoral rolls even shortly before polling, if required.

Speaking alongside the Chief Minister, Abhishek Banerjee said the developments in the Supreme Court represented a major step forward for democratic rights. He claimed that the apex court had taken a critical view of the Election Commission’s approach to the SIR process.

He also noted that the Supreme Court had directed the Calcutta High Court to facilitate the creation of an Appellate Tribunal Bench consisting of former judges. According to him, this bench would allow individuals whose names were deleted from voter lists to file appeals and seek restoration of their voting rights.

“This is a victory for democracy. People whose names have been removed from the voters’ list will now have an opportunity to appeal and seek justice,” Abhishek Banerjee said.

He further criticised the Election Commission, alleging that the Chief Election Commissioner avoided answering several questions raised by journalists during a press conference earlier in the day.

Although the sit-in protest has ended for now, Trinamool Congress leaders indicated that their campaign against the SIR process would continue through legal and political means in the coming weeks.