Bengal Assembly will hold a special session from September 1–4 to discuss resolutions against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and harassment of Bengali workers in BJP-ruled states. The Aparajita Bill, seeking stricter punishments for sexual assault, will also be debated amid escalating Centre-state tensions.
The West Bengal government has convened a special three-day session of the Assembly from September 1 to 4, 2025, with a crucial political agenda in focus. According to state government sources, the Mamata Banerjee-led administration is preparing to bring a resolution against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and a censure motion condemning the harassment of Bengali migrant workers in BJP-ruled states.
The session will take place on September 1, 2, and 4, while September 3 will remain a holiday for Karam Puja. Trinamool Congress (TMC) insiders suggest that the government aims to record its protest formally on multiple pressing issues, both in the context of West Bengal’s political climate and the broader national debate on federalism, migrant rights, and electoral transparency.
Motion on Harassment of Bengalis
One of the key resolutions likely to be moved will address the alleged harassment of Bengali migrant workers outside the state, particularly in BJP-ruled regions.
“The Trinamool Congress has consistently raised the issue of Bengali workers being harassed, stereotyped, or unfairly branded as outsiders in other states. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly spoken against such treatment, especially in the context of Bengalis being called Bangladeshis. She even launched the ‘Shramshree’ scheme to support migrant workers. Now, the time has come to make this protest part of the Assembly’s official record,” said a senior TMC leader.
This resolution is expected to trigger a heated debate in the House, as the ruling party will accuse the Centre and BJP state governments of neglecting the safety and dignity of Bengali workers across India.
Protest Against Election Commission’s SIR
Another major agenda item is a resolution opposing the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, already undertaken in Bihar and speculated to be extended to West Bengal.
TMC leaders argue that the SIR could be used as a tool to disenfranchise Bengali voters or target certain communities under the guise of voter list corrections. “We cannot allow a process that questions the citizenship or legitimacy of Bengalis. The Assembly must speak out firmly,” a party spokesperson said.
The move is expected to deepen tensions between the state government and the Election Commission, which has often faced criticism from opposition parties for alleged political bias.
Aparajita Bill on the Table
The session is also expected to witness sharp exchanges over the Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024. The Assembly had unanimously passed the Bill on September 3, 2024, in the aftermath of the rape and murder of a young doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata — a case that shook the state and triggered widespread protests.
The Bill introduces stringent punishments for sexual offences, including the death penalty in five categories:
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Rape,
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Rape by a police officer or public servant,
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Rape causing death or permanent vegetative state,
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Gang rape,
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Repeat offences.
However, the legislation has faced hurdles at the national level. Governor C.V. Ananda Bose sent the Bill to President Droupadi Murmu for approval on September 6, 2024, but last month, the Governor returned it to the state government citing concerns over the death penalty provisions.
The Mamata Banerjee government is now expected to criticize the Centre for blocking the Bill, accusing it of undermining West Bengal’s legislative will and delaying justice for victims.
A Session Set for Confrontation
The special Assembly session comes at a politically sensitive juncture, as both the ruling TMC and the BJP prepare for high-stakes battles — both in upcoming state-level elections and in shaping national narratives.
For the TMC, highlighting the harassment of Bengalis and protesting against the SIR allows it to position itself as the protector of Bengali identity and rights, both within and outside West Bengal. Meanwhile, pushing back against the Governor’s decision on the Aparajita Bill strengthens its image as a party determined to fight for women’s safety and dignity.
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Political observers believe the debates in the special session will be contentious and deeply polarizing, with the opposition BJP expected to counter the TMC’s motions and defend the Centre’s role.
With issues of identity, migrant welfare, women’s safety, and electoral fairness converging, the upcoming session is shaping up to be one of the most politically charged moments in recent Assembly history.
