With just weeks to go before polling, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday accused the Centre of attempting to interfere with voting rights, even as the Election Commission prepares to publish the first supplementary voter list on March 23, a delayed exercise that has sharpened political tensions in the state ahead of the Assembly elections.Addressing an Eid gathering at Red Road in Kolkata, Banerjee alleged that the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls had led to large-scale deletions, particularly in minority-dominated areas, and warned that her party would resist any attempt to dilute democratic participation.The TMC chief said any efforts to curtail voting rights would be opposed firmly and sustained till the end, framing the issue as a defence of both democracy and citizen entitlements.The supplementary list, originally due on March 19 but deferred due to incomplete processing, is expected to include voters whose applications were earlier kept under adjudication. The final electoral roll was published on February 28. The subsequent scrutiny has triggered political contestation across the state.Banerjee also used the platform to underline Bengal’s tradition of communal harmony, signalling that attempts to polarise the electorate would be resisted socially as well as politically.The controversy over voter rolls has coincided with widespread unrest within major political parties over ticket distribution, adding a volatile layer to an already high-stakes contest. Both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP have faced protests, resignations and public dissent from leaders denied nominations, developments that analysts say could disrupt booth-level mobilisation.The TMC’s candidate reshuffle has been particularly extensive, with 74 sitting MLAs dropped as part of a recalibration strategy aimed at countering anti-incumbency and refreshing its electoral slate.However, the move has triggered backlash in several constituencies. In Malda, a senior leader expressed a sense of betrayal after being replaced, warning that the party could face consequences. His supporters went even further and alleged irregularities in ticket allocation. Similar protests, including road blockades and demonstrations, have been reported from North 24 Parganas and Hooghly.The BJP, too, has seen resistance from grassroots workers, with protests staged outside its state headquarters over candidate selection. The party leadership has acknowledged worker sentiment, but maintained that final decisions rest with the central command.Even the CPM, known for organisational discipline, has witnessed internal friction, including vandalism at a local office in Nadia, following a candidate announcement.West Bengal is set to vote in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting scheduled for May 4. The TMC is seeking a fourth consecutive term, banking on Banerjee’s leadership and welfare outreach. Meanwhile, the BJP is aiming to consolidate and expand its gains from previous elections, setting the stage for a tightly contested battle shaped as much by organisation as by arithmetic.