Archive · 19 Dec 2025
Election Commission Investigates Voter List Errors in West Bengal
The Election Commission of India is looking into mistakes in the voter list in West Bengal where some people who are alive were marked as deceased or missing.
Officials responsible for these errors have been asked to explain.
A special observer, Pankaj Yadav, held meetings with political parties and election officials to discuss and fix these mistakes.
Local leaders from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have raised concerns and allegations about the voter list.
The Election Commission wants to make sure that no eligible voter is left out and that the voter list is correct.
Over 58 lakh names have been provisionally deleted, and hearings are scheduled for those affected.
Political leaders like Abhishek Banerjee and Amit Shah have also commented on the issue, with the BJP focusing on the upcoming Assembly elections.
The Election Commission of India is investigating errors in the voter list in West Bengal where living voters were marked as deceased or missing.
Officials responsible for the errors in Cooch Behar and Burdwan have been asked to explain and correct the mistakes.
Over 58 lakh names have been provisionally deleted from the draft electoral roll, with hearings scheduled for affected voters.
Political parties, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have raised concerns and allegations about the voter list.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit West Bengal to review the BJP’s preparations for the 2026 Assembly elections.
- Who
- Election Commission of India, Booth-level officer (BLO), Assistant electoral registration officer (AERO), Pankaj Yadav (Special Roll Observer), Abhijit De Bhowmik (District Trinamool Congress President), Abhishek Banerjee (TMC National General Secretary), Amit Shah (Union Home Minister), Suvendu Adhikari (BJP Leader), Voters in Cooch Behar, Burdwan, West Burdwan
- What
- Allegations of living voters being marked as deceased or missing from the draft electoral roll, incorrect entries in voter list, political reactions to the SIR process
- When
- Controversy erupted after the publication of the draft electoral roll, with meetings held on Thursday, Amit Shah's visit scheduled for 29-30 December, final voters’ list scheduled for release on 14 February
- Where
- Cooch Behar district, Burdwan, West Burdwan, West Bengal
- Why
- To ensure the accuracy of the electoral roll and address allegations of errors, political parties' reactions to the SIR process
- Location
- Cooch Behar, Burdwan, West Burdwan, West Bengal
- Officials Involved
- Booth-level officer (BLO), Assistant electoral registration officer (AERO), Pankaj Yadav (Special Roll Observer), Abhijit De Bhowmik (District Trinamool Congress President), Abhishek Banerjee (TMC National General Secretary), Amit Shah (Union Home Minister), Suvendu Adhikari (BJP Leader)
- Process
- Special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- Allegations
- Living voters marked as deceased or missing from draft electoral roll, incorrect entries in voter list
- Response
- Election Commission seeks clarification from officials, assures correction of errors
- Special Roll Observer
- Pankaj Yadav, joint secretary in the department of rural development
- Names Deleted
- 58,20,899 names (around 7.59% of the total electorate) provisionally deleted
- Hearings
- Over 1.5 lakh voters called for hearings in West Burdwan
Sources
Election Commission of India show-causes officials for 'deceased' SIR entry - Telegraph India
Draft roll at Burdwan shows anomalies
ECI data bursts BJP’s ‘Rohingya’ claim: Abhishek
Amit Shah to visit Bengal, BJP focus on Assembly polls
