The Election Commission of India has deleted over 27 lakh names from West Bengal's voter list following Special Intensive Revision, affecting many who voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The move has sparked accusations of bias from TMC and defenses from BJP ahead of assembly elections. The Supreme Court recently declined further intervention.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) released data on Tuesday showing that 27,16,393 names – more than 45% of over 60 lakh under adjudication – have been deleted from West Bengal's voter list after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
The state's voter count fell from 7.66 crore when SIR began in December to 6.77 crore now, an 11.62% decline. Many affected, including labourers, professionals and homemakers, had voted in 2024 Lok Sabha polls and submitted documents but were still deleted.
Murshidabad mason Antu Sheikh said, "We submitted all documents... but our names have been deleted." Similarly, 82-year-old Syed Reza Ali Mirza questioned his right to vote.
TMC leader Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged the deletions target Matuas and minorities as a BJP ploy. Banerjee said, "They picked and removed like lice." BJP's Suvendu Adhikari said SIR exposed 'Muslim infiltrators'.
TMC questioned Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal's neutrality after he was seen with a BJP leader in Nandigram. On Monday, the Supreme Court allowed appeals but refused to map earlier voters.
