The Election Commission of India has identified more than 58 lakh voter names for deletion in West Bengal's draft electoral rolls after the contentious Special Intensive Revision process. The publication of the draft list closes the first enumeration phase, and the more grueling second phase of claims and objections. Hearings will continue till February 2026. The final voters' list is scheduled to be published on February 14, 2026, before the high-stakes Bengal assembly elections.
According to ECI data, a total of 58,20,898 voter names have been identified for deletion. This total includes roughly 24,16,852 electors identified as deceased, followed by 19,88,076 voters who have either permanently shifted or migrated. Additionally, 12,20,038 voters have been marked as missing, while 1,38,328 names are identified as duplicate, false, or bogus entries.
It has been learnt that more 57,604 names may get deleted. Those excluded, however, retain the right to submit their claims using Form 6 along with supporting documents.
The Bengal SIR exercise, which began on December 4 and concluded on December 11, was notable for reports of an exodus of illegal Bangladeshis and protests from booth-level officers (BLOs) regarding harsh timelines and excessive work pressure. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has alleged that nearly 40 election officials died during the SIR exercise, which is being held nationwide to remove ineligible names from the rolls.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has vehemently opposed the SIR exercise, accusing the BJP and the Election Commission of conspiring to manipulate the voter list before the assembly election. She declared that her government would not allow anyone to oust people from Bengal and urged citizens to take to the streets if their names were deleted from the voter list, dramatically stating at a rally, "If your name gets deleted, the central government should also be deleted." The BJP, conversely, has alleged that Mamata Banerjee's strong reaction is squarely aimed at protecting her vote bank, which they claim comprises illegal immigrants. The SIR exercise is also being carried out in several other states and Union Territories, including Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Gujarat.
Also read: SIR massive voter exclusions in Mamata's seat than Nandigram
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