91 lakh voters dropped from rolls in Bengal SIR; Muslim-majority Murshidabad tops deletion list

Over 27 lakh names out of 60 lakh adjudicated cases have been deleted, in addition to the already removed 63 lakh voters.

The Muslim-majority Murshidabad recorded the highest number of deletions, with around 4.5 lakh names struck off from 11 lakh adjudicated cases.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has reportedly frozen the voter list, meaning no further additions or deletions can be made until the conclusion of the elections.

What does it mean for deleted voters?

The Supreme Court of India had earlier directed the constitution of appellate tribunals to hear appeals against deletions.

However, the tribunals are unlikely to complete hearings before the first phase of polling on April 23, with the second phase scheduled for April 29.

Can interim inclusion of voters be possible?

In its latest hearing, the top court said it cannot permit interim inclusion of voters who failed verification during the revision drive, Live Law reported.

Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that the appellate process is time-consuming and names cannot be restored merely on the basis of their presence in the 2002 voter list.

Why does it matter?

West Bengal is among five poll-bound states where the SIR exercise is being carried out—the first such expansive revision since 2002.

The deletion of nearly 91 lakh voters could significantly impact political parties in the assembly elections, which are just days away. The large-scale revision has forced parties to reassess their electoral strategies and ground calculations.

‘Don’t worry, we will help’: Mamata Banerjee

Addressing a rally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her approach to the Supreme Court helped restore some names that were earlier placed in the adjudicated category.

Banerjee, who has strongly opposed the exercise alleging it benefits the Bharatiya Janata Party, assured affected voters of assistance from her party, the Trinamool Congress.

“I went to the Supreme Court and could add some of your names to the electoral roll. I assure all excluded voters of help in appealing against the deletion,” she said.