BJP Claims Removal of Over 5 Million Illegal Immigrants from Voter List in West Bengal

In a bold statement, BJP's Nitin Naveen announced the removal of over 5 million illegal immigrants from West Bengal's voter list, claiming it poses a threat to national security. This declaration follows a significant voter list revision, with the state gearing up for upcoming elections. Naveen criticized the current government for allegedly protecting these immigrants and called for a transformative change in governance. As the political landscape shifts, the implications of these claims could significantly impact the electoral dynamics in West Bengal. Read on to discover more about this unfolding political narrative.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 1, 2026, 18:36 IST

BJP's Bold Claim on Voter List Purge

Nitin Naveen, the national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), asserted on Sunday that more than 5 million illegal immigrants have been removed from the voter list in West Bengal. He emphasized that the era of illegal immigrants in the state has come to an end.

This statement followed the publication of the voter list, which occurred just a day after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, during which 6.366 million names were eliminated.

While addressing a rally after flagging off the party's 'Parikrama Yatra' in Cooch Behar, Naveen accused those removed from the list of being 'intruders' who were exploiting government jobs and welfare schemes meant for genuine citizens.

Impact on Citizens and Security

Illegal immigrants infringe on the rights of legitimate citizens

He stated, "Over 5 million illegal immigrants have been purged from the voter list. These intruders not only violated the rights of legitimate citizens but also posed a threat to national security."

Naveen further alleged that West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, has provided protection to these immigrants by assisting them in obtaining fraudulent documents.

He launched a scathing attack on the Trinamool Congress leadership, claiming, "Mamata Banerjee has approached the courts to shield these intruders because they constitute her party's vote bank. Yet, when women face humiliation, you turn a blind eye."

Call for Change in West Bengal

He conveyed a message to the intruders, stating, "It is time for them to be expelled from Bengal. We must not only remove these immigrants but also establish a decisive government that can foster development."

Accusing the Trinamool Congress of 'misgovernance,' Naveen insisted that the state must be liberated from a 'corrupt Trinamool government' that serves only the interests of illegal immigrants. He remarked, "Bengal is yearning for change. The people desire a genuine transformation."

Naveen's remarks come at a crucial time, as the Election Commission had just released the voter list following the SIR exercise. Elections in West Bengal are anticipated in the coming months.

According to official data released on Saturday, the 6.366 million names removed represent approximately 8.3 percent of the electorate, following the special intensive revision process that began last November.

Voter Count Decline

As a result, the total number of voters has decreased from 76.6 million to just over 70.4 million.

The statewide 116-day SIR process marked the first comprehensive revision since 2002, with over 6.006 million voters still categorized as 'under consideration,' whose eligibility will be subject to judicial review in the upcoming weeks.

The draft voter list was initially published on December 16 of last year, which had already reduced the voter count from 76.6 million to 70.8 million.