'EC held SIR to help BJP capture Bengal': Mamata guns for CEC, vows mass protests

NEW DELHI: Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that the Election Commission conducted the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to "help the BJP capture Bengal" by deleting names of valid voters. She further demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.“The truth is now out about how BJP used EC,” Banerjee said, in an apparent reference to a recent report on differences within the poll panel over the SIR exercise.Speaking at a rally in Serampore, Banerjee said protests would continue until Kumar stepped down.“Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar must resign, otherwise protests will continue,” news agency PTI quoted her as saying.Moreover, Mamata confirmed that INDIA bloc meeting was likely to be held in Delhi's Constitution Club on September 30.The proposed meeting comes amid closer coordination among the parties following reports of differences within the poll panel over aspects of the SIR exercise.