By Dr. Gyan Pathak
The evidence brought forward by Trinamool Congress (TMC) from Bengal is just another in a series of evidences of electoral roll manipulation that invariably favours BJP and its allies, as it has recently been witnessed in the recent Maharashtra and Delhi Vidhan Sabha election. Opposition political parties have not only alleged Election Commissions complicity in voter lists fraud, but also demanded to fix the responsibility. Since, evidences emerged so far suggests that electoral roll manipulation in state elections is prima facie true, it must be investigated, action to be taken, and take steps to prevent such manipulation in the future.
Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee has his party leaders that in every assembly constituency, there are 20-30 thousand voters who are “not residents of the state” and are likely to tilt the balance in favour of the BJP. She has cited examples of voters with the same Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number in West Bengal and in other states, and said that the move to induct such “outsiders” into West Bengal’s voter list was intended to influence the Assembly election of 2026.
On March 3, TMC had warned that if Election Commission does not accept its ‘mistakes’ within 24 hours the party would release another set of documents which will cause ‘more embarrassment’ to the poll body. The party had released example of multiple voters’ cards having same number. TMC has demanded that EC clean up the electoral rolls in the next 100 days. The party has also demanded an investigation to find out “who in the BJP is the mastermind” behind electoral roll manipulation.
Election Commission on March 2 had admitted that some Electoral Photo Identity Cards in different states have identical numbers due to a “decentralized and manual mechanism” being followed prior to shifting of electoral rolls database to the ERONET (Electoral Roll Management). Nevertheless, TMC has rejected the EC’s explanation and has insisted on cleaning the electoral roll from ‘outsiders’.
The issue was first raised by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on February 27. She had alleged that BJP won Maharashtra and Delhi Elections by “enrolling fake voter” from Haryana and Gujarat. Mamata Banerjee had also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of enrolling “fake voters” from other states in the electoral rolls with the “help” of the Election Commission. TMC has cited proof of people from Haryana enrolled in West Bengal, and hence, Mamata’s allegation can’t summarily be dismissed. She has threatened a movement against election commission for an indefinite period if fake voters are not removed from the electoral roll.
On March 3, Congress accused the EC of being complicit in large-scale voter list manipulation, alleging that duplicate voter ID numbers have been used to favour ruling BJP. The allegations were made by the party’s Empowered Action Group of Leaders and Experts (EAGLE), calling the issue a grave threat to India’s democratic fabric.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been alleging electoral list manipulation after recent Maharashtra election. He has now said on a post on X, “The cover is now blown. It is clear that the ruling BJP wins or attempts to win elections by manipulating voter lists in connivance with the Election Commission.”
On February 7, Rahul Gandhi had claimed that there were more registered voters in Maharashtra than the total adult population of the state and more voters were added in five months between the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in November 2024, than in the past five years. He had claimed this in a joint press conference where NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut was also present. He claimed several “irregularities” took place in the recently concluded assembly elections.
“Between the 2019 Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha election, 32 lakh voters were added to Maharashtra’s electoral rolls over five years. However, between the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the 2024 Assembly elections, 39 lakh new voters were added in just five months,” Rahul Gandhi had pointed out.
Similar voter list manipulation was alleged even during the Delhi election. The electoral roll data now publicly available also suggests voter list manipulation in very large scale. After getting voters name deleted and new voters enrolled, the net increase in electors in Delhi was 895881 between January 2024 and 2025. It should be noted that total electors were decreased by 68,236 during 2020 and 2024. Young electors attaining 18 years age in2020 were 2.08 lakhs, in 2024 were 2.5 lakh and in 2025 were 2.08 lakh. It means sudden increase in total number of voters were due to outsiders, and the increase shows a discrepancy since its patter is not supported by other patters of increase in votes, such as first time voters.
One can even see the surprising election results. In most of the constituencies addition of new voters mostly favoured BJP to win. There was only one constituency Hari Nagar where electors decreased by 261, and BJP won by a margin of 6632 vote. In all other constituencies net new voters increased by thousands.
It may be surprising to note that net new voter addition in Mustafabad was 21117 and BJP won by a margin of 17578; Karawal Nagar net addition was 22770 BJP’s winning margin was 23355; Malviya Nagar net addition 5471, BJP’s winning margin 2131; Uttam Nagar net addition 21159 BJP’s winning margin 29740; Matiala net addition 30327 BJP’s winning margin 28723; Bijwasan net addition 12649, BJP’s winning margin 11276; Palam net addition 9880 BJP’s winning margin 8952; Laxmi Nagar net addition 8166 BJP’s winning margin 11542; Nangloi Jat net addition 26173 BJP’s winning margin 26251; Motinagar net addition 8695 BJP’s winning margin 11657; Madipur net addition 9915 BJP’s winning margin 10899; Badli net addition 22900 BJP’s winning margin 15163; and Bawana net addition 36727 BJP’s winning margin 31475.
There are other surprising data too, which needs closer analysis. For example, increase on new net voter are higher in the constituencies where there have been larger AAP support base. The new voters addition thus has a pattern which depended on the support bases of BJP and AAP. The new voters addition were according to constituencywise requirements.
To understand it more clearly, one can take the example of the Central Delhi where AAP has very high traditional support base. Out of seven constituencies, AAP had won six – Burari, Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Matia Mahal, Ballimaran, and Karol Bagh. AAP lost only Timarpur to BJP by 1168 votes. Barring Burari, where net new additions were 43220, in all other constituencies net new addition ranged between 4432 and 7048. Burari showed abnormal addition and in rest addition seemed to be normal.
AAP had raised the issue of deletion of name of their voters from the lists and enrolment of outsiders in large number in majority of constituencies. There emerges a pattern that shows BJP the major beneficiary of the abnormal electoral roll deletion and addition of name exercise.
Electoral roll manipulation is only the tip of the iceberg of the election process manipulation. There are many other issues, such as EVM manipulation through numerous ways, voter turnout manipulation, and creating hurdles before peace loving voters by deliberately created tensions and violence, and so on. Entire electoral process and management needs a fresh look to have a free and fair poll in the country. EC have been alleged by the Opposition of favouring BJP by not even acting against their leaders as promptly and properly as against the opposition. Independent investigation is needed to know the layers of truth for the sake of Democracy in India. (IPA Service)
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