Guv backs SIR, TMC accuses Bose of allowing arms inside Raj Bhavan

West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Saturday defended the SIR of electoral rolls as essential to "clean up the election process", drawing a counterattack from Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee, who accused him of "sheltering BJP criminals" inside Raj Bhavan and "arming them with bombs and guns". Bose said the process was designed to remove discrepancies and restore public confidence in the electoral system and that the Bihar elections demonstrated broad public acceptance of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) mechanism. "If people are confused, we should convince them that SIR is a new process which is required to clean up the election process and to ensure that free and fair elections take place," Bose told reporters in Kolkata.“Bihar has proved it. I am sure the people of Bengal will also accept it,” he added.

Arguing that the revision drive was part of a broader effort to strengthen electoral credibility, Bose said violence and corruption must be eliminated ahead of the next polls and adding that West Bengal could regain its “original glory” only if these “cankers” were rooted out immediately.“Otherwise, we cannot have a free and fair election in this state. And that is why the Election Commission is taking all steps to see that the election is conducted in this state in a free and fair manner,” Bose said. The governor also reiterated that the democratic process must be protected from intimidation and force.

Reacting to the Governor’s views, Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee launched a sharp attack on Bose, alleging that the Raj Bhavan was being used to shelter “BJP offenders.” “First, tell the governor first not to shelter BJP’s criminals in Raj Bhavan,” Banerjee told reporters. Escalating his criticism, the TMC MP said, “He is an incompetent governor. As long as this BJP-servant governor remains, nothing good will happen in West Bengal.”

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee-

"Tell Bengal Governor not to entertain BJP criminals in Raj Bhavan.

He is keeping them there and giving them arms and ammunition to go and attack TMC workers." pic.twitter.com/6ch55Tvhub

— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) November 15, 2025

Hours after Banerjee’s allegations, the governor’s office issued a sharp rebuttal and invited him, along with civil society members and journalists, to inspect the premises.In an official statement, the Raj Bhavan said its gates would be opened on Sunday from 5 am for Banerjee and “up to 100 members of civil society and the media” to verify whether any arms were stored on the premises as alleged.“Raj Bhavan will request the Lok Sabha Speaker to conduct an inquiry into the matter since grave allegations have been made by an MP,” a senior official said.