West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on January 10, 2026, wrote a strongly worded letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, describing the service of a hearing notice to Nobel laureate Amartya Sen as “a matter of profound shame.” The notice was issued to the 91-year-old economist as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, a process aimed at verifying voter eligibility and citizenship details. Banerjee expressed deep dismay that a globally respected figure like Sen, who has made immense contributions to India’s intellectual and economic discourse, was being subjected to such scrutiny.

The controversy erupted after Amartya Sen received the notice requiring him to appear before election authorities and submit documents proving his Indian citizenship. The SIR exercise, launched in late 2025, has involved intensive door-to-door verification and demands for additional proof from voters in several districts. While the Election Commission maintains that the process is routine and non-discriminatory, opposition leaders and civil society groups have criticized it as overreach, particularly when applied to prominent citizens with well-documented Indian origins.

In her letter, the Chief Minister highlighted Sen’s stature as a recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics (1998) and the Bharat Ratna (the country’s highest civilian honor) and his lifelong association with India, including his education at Presidency College, Kolkata, and his pioneering work in welfare economics. Banerjee argued that issuing such a notice to someone of Sen’s caliber not only undermines the dignity of the individual but also brings disrepute to the electoral process itself. She urged the CEC to intervene personally and ensure that the SIR guidelines are applied with sensitivity and fairness, avoiding harassment of respected citizens.

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The incident has reignited political tensions between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the central government, with Banerjee accusing the Election Commission of being influenced by political motives ahead of the crucial 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. TMC leaders have framed the episode as part of a broader pattern of targeting Bengali intellectuals and opposition voices through administrative mechanisms. The matter has also drawn attention from academics, activists, and public figures who have rallied in support of Sen, calling for transparency in the voter verification drive.

As the Election Commission reviews the Chief Minister’s letter, the case has spotlighted the challenges of balancing rigorous

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