Massive Voter Purge Before Bengal Polls? 90 Lakh Names Removed, Political Storm Erupts

In a major development before the West Bengal Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India has removed nearly 90 lakh names from the electoral rolls after a Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The deletions account for around 11.8% of the total voter base, raising serious political debate across the state.

Sharp Decline in Total Voters

Following the revision exercise, the number of voters has dropped significantly from around 7.66 crore to just over 7.04 crore. Though final figures are yet to be officially announced, the scale of reduction has sparked concerns among political parties about its possible effect on election results.

High Deletions in Key Districts

Districts such as Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas, Malda, and Nadia witnessed major voter deletions. In some pockets, the removal rate crossed 50%. Nadia reported one of the highest figures, with a large number of under-review voters being struck off. Even parts of Kolkata, including areas linked to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saw notable changes in voter lists.

Scrutiny of Disputed Voters

More than 60 lakh voters were placed under adjudication during the process. Out of these, around 27 lakh names were removed after detailed scrutiny, while over 32 lakh were retained. The review was carried out under judicial supervision, with a significant portion of disputed entries being deleted.

Polling Schedule and Roll Freeze

With the first phase of voting scheduled for April 23 across 152 seats, electoral rolls have now been frozen. The second phase covering 142 seats will take place on April 29, and its rolls will be locked on April 9. No further additions will be allowed unless directed by the Supreme Court of India.

Why Were 90 Lakh Voters Removed?

The deletions were part of a Special Intensive Revision conducted by the Election Commission to clean up electoral rolls. Voters who could not verify their details or were found ineligible during scrutiny were removed.

Can Deleted Voters Still Vote?

Affected individuals can approach tribunals set up under court orders to challenge their removal. However, whether they will regain voting rights before the elections depends on the timing of legal decisions.