Political Tensions Rise in West Bengal Over Voter List Changes
Political Fallout from Voter List Updates in West Bengal
In West Bengal, the political landscape has become increasingly charged following the removal of a significant number of names from the voter list. Reports indicate that during a special intensive revision process, approximately 5.4 to 5.8 million voters have had their names deleted, prompting strong reactions from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). In response, the party has instructed a door-to-door verification of the removed names in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's constituency, Bhawanipur.
According to available information, around 45,000 voters from the Bhawanipur seat have been excluded from the draft voter list. Sources have revealed that the party leadership has made it clear that no legitimate voter's name should be removed under any circumstances, and a physical verification of each deleted name is essential.
It is noteworthy that the Election Commission initiated a special intensive revision campaign to update the voter list ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. The draft list released after this process saw millions of names removed due to reasons such as death, relocation, and absence.
The TMC has directed local leaders and workers to support affected voters during the verification and claims-objections hearings. Additionally, they have been asked to continue 'May I Help You' camps at the neighborhood level to assist individuals with documentation, form filling, and hearings. Volunteers have also been instructed to provide home assistance when necessary.
After the first phase, a total of approximately 216,000 names have been removed from high-profile seats like Bhawanipur, Kolkata Port, Bhowanipore, and Rasbihari, which constitutes nearly a quarter of the total voters in these areas. Bhawanipur is a densely populated urban constituency, home to a large number of individuals from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha.
According to data from the Election Commission, a significant number of voters have also been categorized under 'no-mapping,' with hearings for these cases set to commence soon. Furthermore, the re-examination of details for millions of voters is ongoing, which could escalate this issue and potentially intensify political activity in the state in the coming days.