Mamata Banerjee Calls ECI "WhatsApp Commission" in Historic Supreme Court Appearance

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s appearance before the Supreme Court on Wednesday has added a sharp political edge to the legal battle over the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with clear implications for the election-bound state. For the first time in India’s judicial history, a sitting chief minister argued a petition she had personally filed against the poll body, choosing to appear as a party-in-person before the Chief Justice of India’s bench.

During her brief but pointed submission, Banerjee accused the Election Commission of selectively targeting West Bengal. She alleged that nearly 56 lakh voters were deleted from the rolls in the first phase of the SIR exercise without adequate opportunity to submit Form 6 and claimed that the deployment of micro-observers was disproportionately focused on Bengal. Her remark that the poll body had become a “WhatsApp commission” quickly became the political soundbite of the day.

The courtroom intervention was closely tracked by political observers in West Bengal, where assembly elections are approaching. Analysts noted that Banerjee’s decision to personally argue the case created strong political optics, reinforcing her image as a leader confronting institutions head-on. Author and political commentator Snigdhendu Bhattacharya said the move helped her seize early momentum in the campaign, though he cautioned that anti-incumbency challenges remain significant.

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Academics echoed a similar assessment. Jadavpur University professor Ishani Nashkar described Banerjee’s appearance as a display of “street fighter optics” that could yield political mileage but stressed that state elections are ultimately decided on local governance issues such as employment, safety, and development. Whether the SIR controversy can overshadow these concerns remains uncertain.

Reactions from rival parties were sharply divided. BJP leaders mocked Banerjee’s courtroom role, with former state party president Dilip Ghosh dismissing it as political theatre. In contrast, Trinamool leaders said the episode showed Banerjee leading from the front, while opposition figures like Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav publicly praised her stance against what he termed injustice.

Back in West Bengal, the debate remains polarised. Congress leaders accused Banerjee of using the Supreme Court appearance to deflect from allegations of corruption and governance failures. With the legal proceedings set to continue, the episode has underscored how courtroom developments are increasingly intersecting with high-stakes electoral politics in Bengal.

Also Read: Mamata Banerjee Set to Appear Personally in Supreme Court Today Over Bengal Voter Roll Row