Kolkata: Responsibility for the deletion of 27 lakh names in Bengal SIR rests with former chief minister Mamata Banerjee, CM Suvendu Adhikari said on Sunday. If SIR was good for Kerala, Adhikari asked, why shouldn’t it be the same for Bengal?“The responsibility for the deletion of 27 lakh names lies with Mamata Banerjee, not BJP or Election Commission. Judicial officers took the decisions after Supreme Court’s directions in a case filed by her. It was not a decision from state govt or EC-appointed officers,” Adhikari said.Accusing Trinamool of trying to “confuse” people after its electoral defeat and shift the blame, Adhikari said, “It is clear that they are not ready to accept the huge mandate (for BJP) of the people.”Trying to debunk allegations against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, the CM referred to the full commission meeting on Saturday and said, “The decision was taken jointly by all three members.”Adhikari went on to allege an understanding between Trinamool and CPM. This comes after Banerjee spoke to CPM’s MA Baby. “We all know of the 34 years of ill governance that CPM gave Bengal. Trinamool was formed opposing CPM. And now they are showing bonhomie in press conferences and on social media. She (Banerjee) has chanted ‘azadi’ slogans. We have seen Md Salim choosing the same language as Banerjee in public rallies,” he said.Earlier, BJP netas had referred to a statement on a video clip by Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan where he had purportedly said that the SIR process removed a lot of fake voters in some CPM-represented constituencies in Kerala. “Congress has said SIR is good in Kerala. But the same SIR is bad in Bengal? We won 208 seats, while TMC could manage only 80. Mamata Banerjee is unable to accept the people’s verdict,” Adhikari said.
