PM Modi’s Strategic Huddle with Bengal BJP MPs: Electoral Roll “Purification” Sparks

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In a significant political outreach on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a closed-door meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs from West Bengal inside Parliament, urging them to intensify preparations for the upcoming state assembly elections. At the heart of the discussion lay the contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls—an exercise the Prime Minister described as a “necessary purification”, even as the Opposition continues to denounce it as a politically-loaded manoeuvre.
What Was the Message?
According to senior party leaders present at the meeting, the Prime Minister instructed MPs to project SIR as a routine, transparent, and essential mechanism to refine voter lists—ensuring that rightful citizens are included while ineligible entries are eliminated.
Modi reportedly told MPs to "keep the messaging simple", emphasising that SIR should be portrayed not as a political intrusion but as a democratic hygiene exercise.
He further urged parliamentarians to strengthen grassroots engagement, maintain regular communication with beneficiaries of central welfare schemes, and highlight the Centre’s “development-first” narrative ahead of the high-stakes assembly elections scheduled early next year.
Why Does It Matter?
The BJP has been eager to expand its footprint in West Bengal, especially after its 77-seat tally in the 2021 Assembly elections fell short of expectations. The party’s performance further dipped in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where its seat count declined from 18 in 2019 to 12.
For the BJP, reclaiming political momentum in the state is crucial—not only to challenge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s dominance but also to strengthen its national narrative of expanding influence in eastern India.
TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has gone a step further, calling the exercise a “politically-driven attempt to unsettle voters”. A TMC delegation even confronted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the Commission of having “blood on its hands” after the deaths of 39 individuals, including Booth Level Officers, reportedly linked to the SIR roll revision.
Parliament Erupts
The Winter Session opened amid uproar, with Opposition parties halting proceedings over the SIR issue. The deadlock eased only when the government agreed to conduct a debate—though it reframed the discussion as one concerning “electoral reforms”, a phrasing that itself became a matter of political posturing.
Looking Ahead
The meeting comes as part of the Prime Minister’s broader electoral engagement strategy. On Tuesday, Modi also met MPs from Assam—another state heading into elections next year—signalling the BJP’s intent to frontload mobilisation efforts across key regions.
As West Bengal braces for an intense political season, the SIR exercise is likely to remain a defining fault line. With both sides sharpening their narratives—one calling it “purification”, the other denouncing it as “manipulation”—the battle for public perception has clearly begun.