1. Massive Deletions in First Phase of SIR
- Documenting the scale of removals. The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal has resulted in the deletion of approximately 58 lakh names from the voter list during its first phase. The full report on the disenfranchised can be found here: https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_international/issues/165465/OPS/GO5FCS9JO.1+GOJFDUPD1.1.html
- Identifying the “ASDD” categories. The Election Commission of India (ECI) categorized these deletions as Absent, Shifted, Dead, and Duplicate (ASDD) voters.
- Tracking the population drop. Following the first phase (November 4 to December 14, 2025), the state’s voter base plummeted from 7.66 crore to 7.08 crore.
2. Breakdown of the 58 Lakh Deletions
- Quantifying the deceased and absent. Of the total deletions, 24.18 lakh voters were marked as dead, while 12.01 lakh were found absent from their registered addresses.
- Eliminating duplicates and fakes. The exercise removed 19.93 lakh voters registered in multiple locations and 1.37 lakh voters identified as fictitious.
- Measuring the regional impact. Across the 12 States and UTs undergoing SIR, there has been a significant 12-13% drop in the total number of listed voters.
3. Impact on Migrant Workers and Jute Mills
- Observing “unusually high” booth deletions. At the Sambhu Vidyalaya booth in Kolkata Port, deletions were 10 times the state average, with over 700 names struck off out of a previous 1,023.
- Penalizing seasonal migration. Workers like Sanjay Mahato (truck driver) and Krishna Rai (jute mill worker) were deleted because they were away for work or visiting family when officials visited.
- Struggling with the “shifted” label. Most deletions in industrial belts fell under the “permanently shifted” category, even for those with 20+ years of residency who lack formal land deeds.
4. Demographic and Surname Analysis
- Debunking the border-district myth. While political rhetoric focused on border districts, Kolkata registered the highest percentage of deletions in the state, totaling 6.06 lakh.
- Identifying affected groups by surname. In the Kolkata Port segment, people with the surname ‘Singh’ accounted for the maximum deletions (13.27%), followed by ‘Khatoon’ (8.41%).
- Analyzing Jorasanko’s record numbers. Jorasanko saw the state’s highest deletion rate at 36.85%, where the common Bengali surname ‘Das’ accounted for 15.91% of those removed.
5. The “Unmapped” and Legacy Data Crisis
- Challenging the 2002 baseline. Many voters are marked as “unmapped” because they cannot establish a connection to their father’s or grandfather’s names on the 2002 voter list.
- Exposing the document deficit. Second-generation workers and refugees often lack the “legacy data” or property deeds required to satisfy SIR hearing officers.
- Creating a climate of anxiety. Approximately 1.36 lakh voters with discrepancies have been summoned for hearings, causing widespread fear among those with limited documentation.
6. Political Backlash and “Micro-Observers”
- Chief Minister’s formal protest. Mamata Banerjee issued multiple letters to the CEC, calling the SIR hearings a form of “harassment” and demanding the process be halted or rectified.
- Questioning Central oversight. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has challenged the ECI’s decision to appoint Central government officers as micro-observers specifically for the West Bengal exercise.
- Comparing state-wise percentages. TMC leaders have questioned why West Bengal is being targeted when states like Tamil Nadu reportedly had higher deletion percentages.
7. The Matua Community Flashpoint
- Focusing on Namashudra refugees. In 15 Matua-dominated constituencies, an average of 33.95% of deleted voters were labeled “permanently shifted.”
- Navigating the CAA promise. Despite the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, many Matuas remain terrified of disenfranchisement due to a lack of legacy documents.
- Trading votes for removals. Local BJP MP Santanu Thakur sparked controversy by suggesting it was a “good deal” if some Matuas lost votes temporarily if it meant removing “50 lakh Rohingyas.”
8. High-Profile Errors and Notices
- Summoning a Nobel Laureate. Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen was issued a hearing notice in Santiniketan because the system flagged an age difference of less than 15 years between him and his parents.
- Missing public figures. Other prominent names left out of the rolls include TMC MP and actor Dev, cricketer Md. Shami, and poet Joy Goswami.
- Forcing rule changes. Following public outrage, the ECI exempted overseas electors (like Prof. Sen) and the elderly from mandatory in-person hearings.
9. BJP’s Defense of the SIR Process
- Justifying the “clean up.” The BJP maintains that the SIR is a necessary democratic exercise to remove “fake” voters and “ghost” entries used for proxy voting.
- Citing past irregularities. BJP leaders referenced deceased figures like singer Dwijen Mukhopadhyay, alleging that the TMC had been casting votes in the names of the dead for years.
- Pledging protection for refugees. Home Minister Amit Shah assured that “religiously persecuted refugees” (Hindus) would be protected, despite the ongoing deletions.
10. Future Electoral Implications
- Preparing for 2026. With Assembly elections looming in 2026 for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam, the voter list revision is seen as a decisive factor in the political outcome.
- Predicting party performance. Local leaders, such as Councillor Mahesh Kumar Sharma, have suggested that deletions of migrant populations may not hurt the ruling party if those migrants weren’t their voters anyway.
- Continuing the second round. After Bihar (2025) and West Bengal (late 2025), the SIR process continues to act as a significant source of political and social friction in poll-bound states.
West Bengal SIR & Electoral Disenfranchisement Quiz
Instructions
Total Questions: 15
Time: 15 Minutes
Each question has 5 options. Multiple answers may be correct.
Time Left: 15:00