TMC's Abhishek Accuses BJP for Pre-Orchestrating 1 Cr Bengal Voter Deletions

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India (ECI) of orchestrating the deletion of over one crore voters from West Bengal's electoral rolls ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. Speaking at a press conference in Kolkata on Sunday, Banerjee claimed the "target of deleting 1 crore voters was decided even before the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise began," pointing to prior statements by BJP figures like Union Home Minister Amit Shah and state leaders Suvendu Adhikari. He alleged this was a deliberate strategy to influence poll outcomes by removing names of non-BJP supporters.

Banerjee highlighted that official data from the post-SIR final rolls, published Saturday, showed 63.66 lakh names deleted—about 8.3% of the electorate—reducing the total from 7.66 crore to 7.04 crore voters. Additionally, over 60.06 lakh electors were placed "under adjudication," bringing the combined figure close to the 1.2 crore deletions BJP leaders had publicly targeted. The TMC national general secretary played video clips of BJP remarks and questioned post-deadline Form-7 deletions, vowing to challenge the process in the Supreme Court.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee plans a dharna on March 6 against these "arbitrary deletions," as announced by Abhishek, who dubbed Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as acting "at the behest of the BJP." He mocked the inclusion of cricketer Richa Ghosh in the adjudication list, questioning the ECI's credibility and accusing it of software-driven manipulations. Banerjee asserted such tactics wouldn't help BJP, predicting they would win fewer than 50 seats in the polls.

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This controversy stems from the SIR, West Bengal's first intensive revision since 2002, launched in November 2025 amid TMC-BJP rivalry. The 116-day process addressed deaths, migrations, duplications, and untraceable voters, but TMC alleges selective targeting of its base. BJP has countered that SIR cleans fraudulent entries, dismissing TMC claims as efforts to protect illegal voters.[conversation context]

Tensions have simmered since draft rolls in December 2025 deleted over 58 lakh names, sparking TMC protests and Supreme Court threats. Abhishek's latest salvo escalates ahead of phase-wise roll publications, with claims and objections still ongoing. The ECI maintains the exercise ensures electoral integrity, but opposition voices decry it as "vote theft."

As West Bengal braces for 2026 polls, this voter list row underscores deep political divides, with TMC framing it as democratic sabotage and BJP as necessary reform. Legal battles loom, potentially reshaping constituency dynamics before campaigning intensifies. Both sides urge supporters to verify rolls, amid fears of disenfranchisement in a state of over 7 crore voters.

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