The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal is nearing completion after a rigorous four-month exercise, but uncertainty continues for lakhs of voters whose eligibility remains unresolved. The final voters’ list shows that more than 63 lakh names—around 9 per cent of the electorate—have been deleted, while over 60 lakh voters, accounting for approximately 8.5 per cent, have been placed “under adjudication.”
Among those under adjudication are two state ministers, several MLAs from the ruling All India Trinamool Congress, and the state’s Chief Secretary, Nandini Chakraborty.
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State minister Ghulam Rabbani, whose name appears in the adjudication category, expressed concern over the development. Rabbani, who currently handles the Environment and Non-Conventional and Renewable Energy Sources portfolios, noted that he has contested four Assembly elections and served two terms as a minister.
Sharing a portion of the final SIR list on social media platform X, Rabbani alleged that the move was unprecedented and politically motivated. He stated that he had participated in West Bengal Assembly elections in 2009, 2011, 2016, and 2021 and has been a regular voter since completing his education in the early 1990s.
Rabbani also emphasized his long-standing ties to the country, noting that his father and ancestors were Indian citizens and expressing surprise that his voter ID had been placed under adjudication despite decades of electoral participation.
The revision exercise has sparked debate in the state, with concerns being raised over the large number of deletions and pending cases as authorities move toward finalising the electoral rolls.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
