Voter List Storm in Bengal as cm Mamata Warns Election Commission Against Name Deletions

West Bengal: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists has already caused chaos in Bihar. Now, the Election Commission is set to launch the same process in West Bengal. This decision has sparked a political storm. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has openly opposed the move, declaring that if lakhs of names are removed, her government will strongly resist. She warned that not a single voter’s name should be cut in Bengal.

Did the Election Commission Issue Alerts?

According to media sources, the Election Commission has directed all District Election Officers to remain on alert. Officials have been instructed to begin preparations immediately since the process can start any time. The Commission has ordered that all pending work must be completed without delay, and if required, election offices will remain open round-the-clock to handle voter-related tasks.

Will This New Process Trouble Voters?

Sources reveal that the Chief Electoral Officer has asked district offices to set up dedicated helpdesks for voter additions and deletions. Every decision linked to SIR must also be reported to the Election Commission. The Commission insists that the exercise will ensure a clean electoral roll and help citizens. However, opposition parties fear that the revision could be used to arbitrarily remove large numbers of voters.

Has This Sparked Past Controversies?

In August, when Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was asked if Bengal would face SIR after Bihar, he said the three commissioners would decide the timing. He added that the dates would be announced later. Now, with the announcement that Bengal’s SIR may start from November 1, the political climate has heated up further.

What Do Old Records Reveal?

Recent findings show that nearly 45% of voters in the current Bengal rolls were not listed in the 2002 revision. This was revealed during the voter mapping exercise by the Election Commission. Such data has given ammunition to critics, who allege that SIR could be misused to reshape the voter base and tilt the political balance.

Will It Affect 2026 State Elections?

The Election Commission has clarified that voter mapping must be completed before the 2026 Assembly elections. Officials stress that the voter list must be fair and transparent. However, Mamata Banerjee and her party, the Trinamool Congress, allege that the process is politically motivated to favor rival parties. This has intensified the political battle across the state.

Is Public Trust at Risk?

The voter list is the backbone of democracy. If citizens feel their names are unjustly removed, their faith in the system could collapse. Mamata Banerjee is already amplifying this fear, vowing protests if any legitimate voter’s name disappears. The real test now lies with the Election Commission—to prove the process is transparent and restore public confidence before the elections.