By Dr. Gyan Pathak
With the publication of Draft Electoral Rolls on December 16, 2025, political heat has considerably risen in West Bengal which is going to poll three months from now in March-April 2026. Over 58 lakh names have been deleted from the existing voter list during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state. The ruling TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee is miffed over the deletion and has asked the party rank and file to carry out fresh door-to-door scrutiny of the deleted names.
As of October 27, 2025, when the SIR process was announced by the Election Commission of India, there were 7.6 crore voters on the electoral rolls. SIR process began on November 4. Out of them 7.08 crore (92.4 %) voters had submitted the enumeration forms whose names are included in the draft voter list. It resulted in deletion of the names of over 58 lakh voters. Of the names deleted, 24.16 lakh (3.15 %) were dead, 32.65 lakh (4.26 %) were found to have shifted or were absent, and 1.38 lakh (0.18 %) were found enrolled at multiple places.
The ECI has said that the draft rolls, along with a detailed, booth-wise list of deleted voters and reasons for deletion, have been made available on the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) website, the Election Commission’s voter portal and the ECINET application, adding, if a voter does not find his or her name in the draft voter list, then he or she must fill Form 6 and submit it along with the requisite documents.
With the publication of the draft voter list, the claims and objection period has begun from December 16, 2025, which will end on January 15, 2026. During this period any existing or prospective elector may file claims or objections for inclusion of eligible electors or deletion of ineligible names. The verification phase will end on February 7. The final rolls will be published on February 14.
It is well known that after Bihar, PM Narendra Modi’s election machinery is focusing on West Bengal, throw the ruling TMC out of power from the state. TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee has been Chief Minister of the State since May 20, 2011. This is her third term as chief Minister, and she seems well set to retain power for the fourth consecutive term.
Nevertheless, the SIR exercise has created considerable tension in TMC leadership and its rank and file, chiefly on account of the alleged large scale deletion of voters who are believed to be her support base, especially from among the minority Muslim community. BJP has been campaigning in the state for quite some time that she has been protecting illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators, and many of them have been able to get their name listed as voters in the state.
Mamata Banerjee has said that no valid voter’s name should be deleted under any circumstances, and every deleted name must be physically verified by the party workers. TMC leaders and workers have thus started verifying the deleted voters who have been marked “dead”, “shifted”, or absent by the poll panel.
ECI officials have said that enumeration forms were printed for all voters and delivered door-to-door by booth-level officers (BLOs). They said that whoever submitted signed forms, even if partially filled, their names have been retained in the draft list, though their details will be subject to further verification.
Significant number of voters have been flagged during the SIR process. This is the primary reason of rising tension among voters and political parties. Reports suggest that over 32 lakh voters have been placed in a “no-mapping” category as their names could not be linked with the 2002 electoral rolls. In addition, around 1.7 crore voters have been placed under varying degrees of scrutiny, and BLOs have been tasked with re-verifying their details through door-to-door checks after the draft rolls are published.
Heated political discourse is being heard from every part of West Bengal. TMC has accused the SIR process and the timing of the deletions of being politically motivated and targeted with approaching Legislative elections. Central and state BJP leadership have urged opposition political parties to support SIR exercise to ensure accurate and credible voter rolls. ECI has defended the SIR process.
Nevertheless, many communities other than the minority Muslim community, have raised their concerns and fears. For example, the Matua community in parts of North 24 Parganas have publicly expressed fears of being disenfranchised, with many members listed as unmapped and potentially facing hearings.
The hearing and verification process has already become highly contentious with both bureaucratic and political pressures on the ground level are mounting up. It is visibly impacting the political dynamics ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. SIR has already become the central political issue. Debates over legitimacy, inclusivity, and perceived bais in the SIR process are fuelling heightened political mobilisation by all major parties – the BJP, TMC, Left front, and the Congress.
TMC has publicly alleged that the SIR exercise is being used as a “joint conspiracy” by the BJP and the Election Commission to remove legitimate voters — especially from certain communities — and to intimidate citizens ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls. (IPA Service)
