Bengal Sir 2026: 91 Lakh Names Deleted from Voter List, Minority Dominated Districts Worst Hit

Fresh Data from Election Commission of India shows 91 lakh voters deleted in Bengal SIR, with minority-dominated districts experiencing the highest impact.

In a major development ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, nearly 91 lakh names have been deleted from the state’s voter list following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The large-scale revision was carried out to remove duplicate, deceased, shifted and ineligible voters, according to official data released on Monday. The updated list has now been finalised after completing the judicial adjudication process across the state.

Earlier, around 63.66 lakh names had already been removed during the initial phase of the revision process since November 2025. With the addiction of over 26 lakh more deletions, the total number has now crossed 91 lakh, making it one of the largest voter list revisions in West Bengal’s recent electoral history.

Minority Dominated Border Districts Worst Hit

According to Election Commission data, border and minority dominated districts witnessed the highest number of deletions. These include Murshidabad, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Cooch Behar, Nadia, North and South 24 Parganas where a significant number of names were removed from electoral rolls.

Report suggests that Murshidabad and Malda recorded some of the highest deletions, with thousands of voters removed during the revision exercise. These districts have large minority populations, leading to political concerns about the disproportinate impact of the revision.

Political Row Intensifies

The large-scale deletion has triggered a political controversy in the state. West Bengal chief Minister Mamta Banerjee alleged that names of people belonging to specific communities were deliberately removed, raising concerns about voter disenfrachisement ahead of elections. The allegations have further escalated political tensions in the state.

Oppositions leaders and civil society groups have also expressed concern that genuine voters may have been excluded due to documentation issues or administrative errors. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has maintained that the revision exercise was conducted to ensure accurate and transparent electoral rolls.

Impact Ahead of Elections

The deletion of nearly 91 lakh voters is expected to significantly influence electoral dynamics in West Bengal, especially in border and minority dominated districts. With elections approaching, the voter list revision has become one of the most debated political issues in the state, raising questions about representation, fairness and electoral transparency.