Mamata Alleges Post-SIR Electoral Roll Deletions In Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a sit-in protest in Kolkata on March 6, 2026, alleging that deletions from the post-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) electoral rolls were part of a conspiracy by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India (ECI) to disenfranchise voters and divide the state ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. The protest, held at Esplanade’s Metro Channel, saw Banerjee vow to expose what she described as a "BJP-EC conspiracy" to remove legitimate Bengali voters from the rolls. She presented individuals wrongly marked as deceased in the revised lists to demonstrate alleged errors, emphasizing that the exercise targeted genuine electors rather than cleaning up inaccuracies.

The ECI published the final post-SIR electoral rolls on February 28, 2026, showing significant changes: approximately 63.66 lakh names (around 8.3% of the electorate) were deleted, reducing the total voter base from about 7.66 crore to over 7.04 crore. Additionally, more than 60.06 lakh voters were placed under the "under adjudication" category for further scrutiny, marking one of the most extensive revisions in the state since 2002. The SIR process, which involved 100% physical verification by Booth Level Officers, aimed to eliminate duplicates, deceased persons, permanent migrants, and other ineligible entries, with the qualifying date set as January 1, 2026. The ECI has maintained that the exercise was conducted transparently to ensure roll integrity.

Banerjee has repeatedly accused the BJP of orchestrating mass deletions, claiming figures as high as 1.3 crore voters could be purged in total, with disproportionate impacts in TMC-stronghold constituencies, including her own Bhabanipur seat where over 47,000 names were removed. She alleged that the process disproportionately affected minorities, migrant workers, women (due to surname changes after marriage), and economically marginalized groups, terming it "inhuman" and politically motivated to alter electoral demographics. TMC leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, echoed these concerns, describing the deletions as wrongful and aimed at influencing poll outcomes.

Also Read: Mamata Banerjee Escalates Row With EC Over Voter Roll Revisions in West Bengal

The controversy has escalated through legal and public channels, with Banerjee approaching the Supreme Court earlier to challenge the SIR's implementation, arguing it violated procedural norms and sidelined local Electoral Registration Officers in favor of external micro-observers. The court issued notices to the ECI and expressed concerns over the process. Banerjee has also criticized ECI officials and claimed central interference, including threats to state functionaries, while asserting she would contest and win from Bhabanipur regardless of deletions.

As the assembly elections approach, the voter roll revisions have heightened political tensions in West Bengal, with opposition parties like Congress and CPI(M) also raising issues about fairness and transparency. The ECI is scheduled to review poll preparedness in the state soon, amid ongoing claims and counter-claims. Voters can check their status on official portals like voters.eci.gov.in or ceowestbengal.wb.gov.in, with provisions for claims and objections remaining open to address discrepancies. This development underscores the high stakes in ensuring an inclusive and accurate electoral process in one of India's most politically vibrant states.

Also Read: BJP Maps Bengal in Three Political Zones as PM Modi Prepares Kolkata Rally on March 14