West Bengal SIR controversy: Massive voter deletions spark TMC protest

Kolkata: The West Bengal SIR controversy intensified after election authorities dropped nearly 58 lakh names from the draft voter list, triggering sharp protests from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). In response, the ruling party announced door-to-door verification to check whether eligible voters were wrongly excluded.

Draft voter roll shows major deletions

The Election Commission released the draft electoral roll following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Soon after, data revealed that officials had removed around 58 lakh names statewide.

Election officials said they deleted names due to death records, migration, duplication, or missing documentation. However, the scale of deletions alarmed political leaders. As a result, the West Bengal SIR controversy gained momentum across the state.

TMC plans door-to-door scrutiny

Following the release, the TMC instructed booth-level workers to begin door-to-door checks. Party leaders said the goal was to identify genuine voters whose names disappeared from the draft list.

Moreover, the party focused special attention on Bhabanipur, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s constituency. There, officials removed nearly 45,000 voter names, raising fresh concerns. Consequently, senior leaders accused authorities of acting without adequate verification.

Political tensions rise over electoral roll changes

The West Bengal SIR controversy has amplified political tensions in the state. The TMC claims that the deletions are unfair and could harm the democratic rights of ordinary citizens. Meanwhile, critics of the TMC allege that the party is using the issue to rally support and push its political agenda ahead of the 2026 elections.

The Election Commission has clarified that voters whose names were removed can file objections or corrections before the final electoral list is published. The deadline for objections is mid-January 2026, and the final roll is expected in February 2026.

Impact on key constituencies

The draft SIR roll shows significant voter deletions across several key constituencies. Four assembly segments — Bhabanipur, Kolkata Port, Ballygunge, and Rashbehari — together recorded more than 2.16 lakh deletions, about 24% of their combined electorate. Some wards with high deletion rates will receive special attention during the verification process.

What happens next

Following the publication of the draft list, the hearing and objection process is expected to begin soon. The Election Commission will conduct verification hearings and allow voters to submit necessary documents to retain or restore their names on the rolls. Officials have also noted that several million voters require additional scrutiny due to mapping discrepancies with older lists.

Conclusion

The West Bengal SIR controversy has sparked political debate and administrative challenges as leaders and voters react to the large-scale deletion of names from the draft electoral roll. With door-to-door verification drives underway and objections pending, the issue continues to evolve ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.