Tremors in West Bengal trigger war of words between TMC, BJP: ‘Was it because of SIR?’

Mamata Banerjee

Moments after tremors were felt across West Bengal and parts of the North East on Friday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took a swipe at the Trinamool Congress (TMC), setting off a sharp political exchange on social media.

Soon after an earthquake of magnitude 5.7 jolted Bangladesh's Narsingdi, with tremors experienced in several parts of Bengal, the BJP’s state unit took to X and wrote, “West Bengal just felt earthquake tremors. Mamata Banerjee, was it because of SIR?"

The TMC hit back at the post, accusing the BJP of panic ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls. “It’s actually the ground shaking beneath the feet of the Bengal unit of the BJP as they stare at an imminent defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections," the TMC wrote.

“And don't worry, the Delhi Zamindars won’t miss it either; the shockwaves will reach them too,” it added.

This comes as West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed serious concerns over the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, urging the Election Commission to intervene immediately.

It’s actually the ground shaking beneath the feet of @BJP4Bengal as they stare at an imminent defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections. And don't worry, the Delhi Zamindars won’t miss it either; the shockwaves will reach them too. https://t.co/KRVunyw0fn

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) November 21, 2025

On Thursday, Banerjee wrote a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, claiming that the "critical gaps in training, lack of clarity on mandatory documentation and the near-impossibility of meeting voters in the midst of their livelihood schedules have made the exercise structurally unsound."

The letter reads, "I have time and again flagged my serious concerns in respect of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the way it has been thrust upon the people. Now, I am compelled to write to you as the situation surrounding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has reached a deeply alarming stage. The manner in which this exercise is being forced upon officials and citizens is not only unplanned and chaotic, but also dangerous. The absence of even basic preparedness, adequate planning or clear communication has crippled the process from day one."

The TMC is preparing for a high-stakes internal review meeting on November 24, CNN-News18 reported. The party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee is scheduled to address more than 10,000 party leaders in a virtual conference focused entirely on the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in West Bengal, the report added.