Over 58 Lakh Names Dropped From Bengal Voter Draft
More than 58 lakh voter names have been removed from the draft electoral roll in West Bengal following the publication of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) list by the Election Commission, officials said. The revision exercise comes ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections and is aimed at updating and cleaning the voter database.
According to election officials, the deletions were made after verification exercises identified duplicate entries, deceased voters, permanent migration cases, and ineligible names. The draft list has been published to allow political parties and voters to verify details and raise objections or seek corrections within the stipulated period.
Revision Process and Verification
The Special Intensive Revision involved door-to-door verification, scrutiny of records, and cross-checking with official databases. Officials said the process is conducted periodically to ensure electoral rolls remain accurate and credible. The poll body stressed that deletion from the draft list does not mean permanent exclusion, as eligible voters can still apply for inclusion during the claims and objections phase.
Political Reactions and Concerns
The large number of deletions has triggered sharp political reactions in the state. Opposition parties have raised concerns over possible disenfranchisement, alleging that genuine voters could be affected. They have demanded transparency in the revision process and urged the Election Commission to ensure that no eligible voter is excluded unfairly.
The ruling party has also asked voters to carefully check the draft list and submit claims where required.
Next Steps for Voters
The Election Commission has advised voters to verify their names through official channels and file objections or inclusion requests within the specified timeline. A final electoral roll will be published after all claims are addressed.
