West Bengal SIR: Final Electoral Roll Flags 61 Lakh Cases, Political War Of Words Intensifies

Last Updated:March 01, 2026, 15:41 IST

West Bengal SIR: When the SIR began, the total number of voters stood at 7,66,37,529

The final electoral roll published after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal has triggered major political debate, with nearly 61 lakh voter records placed under adjudication and sent for judicial review.

When the SIR began, the total number of voters stood at 7,66,37,529. In the draft roll, the figure dropped to 7,08,16,630, indicating that around 58 lakh names were excluded at the draft stage.

According to the final roll released on Saturday, the total number of voters is 7,04,59,284, taking the overall exclusions to approximately 62 lakh.

District wise electors under adjudication

ECI data shows highest logical discrepancy is witnessed in Murshidabad, followed by Maldah then North 24 pargana, South 24 pargana and North Dinajpur.

Additions and pending cases

1,82,036 voters added through Forms 6 and 6A

6,671 voters added through Form 8

60,06,675 (around 61 lakh) cases marked under “logical discrepancy" and sent for adjudication

After additions and deletions, the voter count has decreased by 3,57,446 compared to the draft list.

61 Lakh ‘Logical Discrepancy’ Cases Under Review

Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal stated that this is the final roll for now, but nearly 61 lakh cases involving logical discrepancies are being reviewed by judicial officers. Depending on the outcome of the adjudication process, these names may either be added through supplementary lists or permanently deleted.

Experts say the fate of these 61 lakh voters remains uncertain and could significantly impact the political landscape ahead of elections.

Impact on High-Profile Constituencies

In high-profile constituencies, the revisions have drawn sharp attention:

In Bhabanipur, the constituency of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, 47,129 voters have reportedly been deleted, while around 14,000 cases are marked under logical discrepancy.

In the constituency of Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, nearly 11,000 voter names have been deleted.

In Naihati, a controversy erupted after a Trinamool Congress councillor, Sushanta Sarkar of Ward No. 4, and his mother Arati Sarkar were shown as “deleted" in the published roll.

Matua Voters and Citizenship Issue

Reports also suggest that a significant number of Matua voters have been deleted in the Bongaon area.

Adhikari has assured affected families that their names will be restored. He stated that more than 90,000 Hindu refugees are expected to receive citizenship in the coming days, after which they will be eligible to vote. According to him, around 91,000 applicants have already applied under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), with only 200–300 applications rejected during scrutiny.

Political Reactions Intensify

Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya alleged that over 60 lakh cases are under judicial examination following intervention by the Supreme Court, claiming this halted attempts to include ineligible voters without proper scrutiny. He further warned that the integrity of the electoral roll must not be compromised.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC), however, has strongly criticised the revision process, accusing the BJP and the Election Commission of what it termed “silent invisible rigging." The party questioned how elected representatives and legitimate voters could be deleted from the rolls and demanded accountability and transparency in the electoral process.

What Lies Ahead

With around 61 lakh cases pending adjudication, further changes to the voter list remain possible. Supplementary additions or deletions could reshape the final electoral landscape.

As political tensions escalate, the spotlight remains firmly on the Election Commission’s next steps — and on ensuring transparency and credibility in the democratic process.

News elections West Bengal SIR: Final Electoral Roll Flags 61 Lakh Cases, Political War Of Words Intensifies

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