West Bengal Election Commission Releases Second Supplementary Voter List Amid Controversy

The Election Commission of West Bengal has released its second supplementary voter list as part of an intensive revision process ahead of the upcoming elections. This list addresses a significant number of adjudicated cases, but many remain unresolved. Former High Court judge Sahidullah Munshi's inclusion after initial omission has sparked discussions about the integrity of the process. With concerns raised by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding potential disenfranchisement, the situation remains tense as the state prepares for elections in late April. Read on for more details about the voter list updates and the ongoing electoral challenges.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 28, 2026, 17:06 IST

Release of the Second Supplementary Voter List

On Friday, the Election Commission unveiled the second supplementary voter list for West Bengal, part of a special intensive revision of electoral rolls in preparation for the upcoming elections.

The initial supplementary list was made public earlier this week, addressing approximately 29 lakh cases. The second list has resolved an additional 8 lakh cases, bringing the total adjudicated cases to 37 lakh.

Out of the 60 lakh cases under review, over 23 lakh still await adjudication by judicial officers assigned by the Supreme Court.

While booth-wise lists were posted on the Election Commission's website late Friday, access to details regarding deletions and inclusions was hindered due to technical issues, as reported by an unnamed official.

The Election Commission did not provide specific figures for the number of names added or removed in this latest list.

Challenging Exclusions

Manoj Agarwal, the Chief Electoral Officer for the state, indicated that individuals whose names have been removed can appeal the decision before appellate tribunals established by the Calcutta High Court.

Interestingly, the names of former High Court judge Sahidullah Munshi and his family were included in the latest list after initially being omitted. Munshi expressed his distress over the situation, describing it as 'humiliating and painful'.

Ongoing Electoral Roll Revision

West Bengal is one of 12 states and Union Territories undergoing this special intensive revision of electoral rolls.

Earlier this year, the Election Commission published the final electoral roll, revealing that over 61 lakh voters had been excluded. However, around 60 lakh cases remain under review due to objections regarding their exclusion from the draft rolls released in December.

In February, the Supreme Court mandated the appointment of judicial officers to expedite the revision process amidst a conflict between the Trinamool Congress government and the Election Commission.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has raised concerns about the potential for mass disenfranchisement of eligible voters, urging the Supreme Court to allow elections based on the previous year's electoral rolls.

The state elections are scheduled for April 23 and April 29, with vote counting set for May 4, coinciding with elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu.