The release of West Bengal’s draft voter list following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has ignited a fresh wave of political tension, just months ahead of the state’s crucial Assembly elections. As per official records, around 58 lakh names have been removed from the electoral rolls in a move aimed at eliminating duplicate and inaccurate entries.
🔍 Breakdown of Deletions
According to data shared by election officials:
- 24 lakh names were marked as deceased
- 19 lakh were identified as having relocated
- 12 lakh were listed as missing
- Approximately 1.3 lakh entries were flagged as duplicates
🗳️ What Comes Next in the Voter Revision Process
The publication of the draft list marks the end of Phase 1 of the revision. Now, voters who find their names missing can file objections or submit correction requests. These will be reviewed and processed ahead of the final voter list, expected to be published in February.
The official announcement of election dates is likely to follow the finalization of the list. Notably, this is the first Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal in over 20 years.
🗨️ Trinamool Alleges Voter Suppression
The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has strongly criticised the mass deletions. Party MP Saugata Roy called the move unjust, accusing the revision process of unfairly targeting legitimate voters.
He announced that TMC is now setting up voter assistance camps across the state to help affected citizens file applications and get their names restored.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has gone a step further, alleging that the Centre and Election Commission are using the SIR to deliberately erase eligible voters, which she says could strip lakhs of their voting rights.
🔥 Mamata’s Rally Comments Add Fuel to the Fire
At a recent rally in Krishnanagar, Mamata Banerjee urged citizens to raise their voices if they found their names removed. She claimed the voter list revision could be weaponized to intimidate voters and warned of a widespread attempt to influence the electoral outcome.
Her remarks have further intensified the already heated political atmosphere.
🔁 BJP Pushes Back
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, has firmly rejected Trinamool’s allegations. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused TMC of trying to protect fake or illegal voters, saying the revision is a much-needed step to clean up the voter rolls and enhance electoral integrity.
He argued that the TMC’s opposition stems from fear of losing ground in a fair contest.
⚠️ More Political Showdowns Likely
Tensions began brewing earlier when Trinamool raised concerns about Booth Level Officers facing extreme pressure during the revision drive. Now, with the draft list out in the open, observers expect the controversy to escalate as parties prepare for the upcoming polls.What started as a routine administrative task to clean the voter database has now evolved into a full-blown political flashpoint in West Bengal.
