Election Commission Accepts Tea Garden Records for Voter Identity in West Bengal

The Election Commission of India has made a significant change by accepting employment records from tea gardens and cinchona plantations as valid proof of identity for voter roll revisions in West Bengal. This decision aims to assist numerous workers who have historically lacked the necessary documentation to participate in elections. With the upcoming Assembly elections in 2026, this move is expected to enhance electoral inclusion for marginalized communities in the region. The announcement follows persistent advocacy from local political leaders, highlighting the long-standing issues faced by these workers. Discover more about the implications of this decision and its impact on voter participation.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 12, 2026, 13:51 IST

New Identity Verification for Voter Rolls

On Sunday, the Election Commission announced that employment records from tea gardens and cinchona plantations in North Bengal will now be recognized as valid proof of identity for the ongoing special intensive revision of voter rolls in West Bengal.

This decision affects workers in seven districts: Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, North Dinajpur, and South Dinajpur, as stated in a letter to the chief electoral officer of West Bengal.

Many workers in these areas lack the official documents typically required by the Election Commission for the voter roll revision. Previously, the commission indicated that verification of tea estate workers would be conducted by district election officers.

Since October of the previous year, leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party have been advocating for this change, emphasizing the need for recognition of these workers' identities.

Raju Bista, the party's MP from Darjeeling, had previously communicated with the Election Commission, stressing that the North Bengal regions are home to numerous tea garden workers and forest-dwelling communities who have historically been excluded from electoral rolls.

He noted that many of these workers have not possessed any official documentation aside from their employment records, a situation that has persisted since the British colonial era.

Following the commission's acceptance of this suggestion, Bista expressed that this decision would significantly aid thousands of individuals who have been deprived of essential documentation and electoral participation.

The draft electoral rolls for the state were released on December 16, revealing that over 58 lakh voters were removed due to being marked as deceased, relocated, or absent.

West Bengal is anticipated to conduct Assembly elections in the first half of 2026.

In addition to West Bengal, a special intensive revision of electoral rolls is currently taking place in 11 other states and Union Territories.

In Bihar, where the revision was finalized ahead of the Assembly elections in November, approximately 47 lakh voters were excluded from the final electoral list published on September 30.

Concerns were raised in Bihar regarding the potential removal of eligible voters from the rolls during this process.