SIR in Bengal, Nov. 28 -- The standoff between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal escalated sharply on Friday, as the poll body delivered a detailed rebuttal to the party's objections and issued fresh directives aimed at safeguarding the neutrality of field-level officers. The meeting, attended by a 10-member TMC delegation, ended with both sides trading strong words, deepening what has become one of the most contentious political flashpoints of the year.

According to ECI officials in the know, the Commission gave a point-by-point rebuttal to "each baseless allegation" raised by the TMC, asking the party to wait until ...