Political tensions have intensified in West Bengal ahead of the proposed Assembly elections this month, with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list emerging as a central point of dispute.
In Kolkata, political parties have escalated allegations and counter-allegations over the SIR process. The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) is scheduled to meet the Election Commission of India on Wednesday regarding the issue.
The TMC has alleged that a large number of names are being removed from the voter list under the revision process, affecting individuals’ voting rights. The party has described the matter as one concerning democratic rights and has sought immediate intervention from the Commission.
A four-member delegation of the TMC, comprising Derek O’Brien, Saket Gokhale, Menaka Guruswamy and Sagarika Ghose, will present the party’s concerns to the Commission. According to the party, the meeting is intended not only to represent its position but also to raise the concerns of those voters whose names have allegedly been removed from the list. The party had earlier written to the Election Commission expressing concern over the issue, following which the meeting was scheduled.
TMC leaders have alleged that a large number of valid voters’ names have been removed during the SIR process. The party has stated that this may not be a technical or administrative error, but could be a planned step affecting people’s voting rights. According to available figures cited by the party, lakhs of names have already been deleted from the voter list.
The TMC has claimed that approximately 91 lakh names have been removed, which it said constitutes a significant proportion of the total electorate in the state. The figure has been stated as around 11.85 percent of the approximately 7.66 crore voters recorded at the end of October 2025.
The party has also raised questions about the impartiality of the Election Commission. It has alleged that some officials involved in the revision process may not be functioning in an impartial manner and could be inclined towards a particular political party. Party leaders have further stated that the Commission’s approach does not appear transparent and balanced, and have asserted that maintaining the credibility of the democratic process requires the Commission to act in an impartial and accountable manner.
As the West Bengal Assembly elections approach, the issue is increasingly becoming a focal point in the state’s political landscape. Allegations and counter-allegations among political parties have intensified, contributing to a heightened electoral atmosphere.
