‘File fresh pleas if deleted votes exceeded victory margins’:SC to Mamata Banerjee; TMC flags 31 seats where BJP’s win margin was lower

The Supreme Court on Monday told the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) that it may file fresh applications over its claim that the BJP’s victory margins in several constituencies in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections were smaller than the number of voters deleted during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of submissions made by senior advocate and TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee. Senior Advocate Banerjee told the court that in 31 Assembly constituencies, the BJP’s margin of victory was lower than the number of voters removed during the SIR process. Banerjee pointed out that in one constituency, the Trinamool Congress had lost by a margin of 862 votes while nearly 5,000 appeals seeking inclusion in the voter list remained pending. The Court observed that with regard to pending appeals filed by claimants seeking inclusion in voter rolls, it would seek a report from the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court and examine how the issue could be resolved expeditiously. Mamata among petitioners The court said former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and other petitioners were free to move fresh applications raising the issue. The Bench was hearing a batch of petitions, including one filed by Mamata Banerjee, challenging aspects of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state. EC says remedy lies in election petitions The Election Commission opposed the submissions, arguing that the appropriate legal remedy was an election petition. The poll panel said it could be held accountable in proceedings concerning the SIR process and subsequent appeals relating to the addition or deletion of names from the electoral rolls. BJP won 207 seats, TMC secured 80 In the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP won 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, while the Trinamool Congress secured 80. On the last date of hearing, CJI Surya Kant remarked that, as a citizen, he was very happy to see the percentage of voting, observing that people in the country need to participate in the democratic process. The CJI added that when people realise their power in a democracy through the power of the vote and follow the rule of law, they do not indulge in violence. “People realise their power in a democracy, their power of vote, and they follow the rule of law…then they don’t indulge in violence,” CJI said. The state recorded a voter turnout of more than 90%, the highest in its electoral history. ​