Archive · 11 Jan 2026
Bengal Voter Deletion Controversy Escalates
There's a big argument in West Bengal about who should be allowed to vote.
Some people say the government is trying to remove certain voters from the list because of small mistakes in their names or ages.
A man named Mausum Sarkar quit his job because he thought this was unfair.
Even famous people like Amartya Sen, a very smart professor, have been asked to prove they are who they say they are.
The chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, is very upset and says this is not right.
The government says they are just checking the lists to make sure they are correct, but others think they are trying to stop certain people from voting.
The Election Commission has brought in special officers to help with the checks, but the argument continues.
Mausum Sarkar resigned as AERO, alleging that genuine voters are being categorized as 'logical discrepancy' cases to exclude them.
Amartya Sen, a Nobel laureate, was asked to prove his credentials due to a 'logical discrepancy' in his age difference with his mother.
Mamata Banerjee criticized the Election Commission, calling the process 'a matter of profound shame' and 'sheer audacity'.
The Election Commission appointed four special roll observers to oversee the SIR process, starting hearings for 40 lakh voters with severe discrepancies from January 14.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleges that the SIR process is politically biased and aims to exclude marginalized communities from voting.
- Who
- Mausum Sarkar, Amartya Sen, Mamata Banerjee, Election Commission of India (ECI), Trinamool Congress (TMC), BJP
- What
- Controversy over voter deletion and logical discrepancies in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal
- When
- Ongoing, with hearings starting January 14
- Where
- West Bengal, India
- Why
- Allegations of political bias and harassment in the voter list revision process
- Resigned Officer
- Mausum Sarkar
- Position
- Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO)
- Constituency
- Bagnan Assembly
- Logical Discrepancy Cases
- 40 lakh
- Hearing Date
- January 14
- Required Documents
- 12
- Chief Minister
- Mamata Banerjee
- Central Agency
- Enforcement Directorate (ED)
- Special Roll Observers
- 4
- Notable Individuals Affected
- Amartya Sen, Joy Goswami, Deepak Adhikari, Mohammed Shami, Maharaj of Bharat Sevashram Sangha
Sources
Bengal AERO resigns over SIR work, alleges move to delete genuine voters
Amid ED row, TMC launches election song projecting Mamata Banerjee’s fourth term - Telegraph India
Probe Agency ED Complains To Supreme Court In Showdown With Mamata Banerjee
In letter to CEC, Mamata says SIR turned into exercise to exclude voters rather than correct records
'Deliberate, clandestine attempt to disenfranchise': Mamata writes to CEC Gyanesh Kumar again on SIR
Election official steps down over SIR ‘logical discrepancies’, TMC targets poll panel
In third letter to CEC, Mamata says SIR hearing process 'devoid of application of mind'
SIR exercise: ECI appoints four more special observers for West Bengal
CM Mamata Banerjee flays EC over notice to Amartya Sen, calls it ‘a matter of profound shame - Telegraph India
IAS hands for poll roll checks: Election Commission appoints four ‘special observers’ - Telegraph India
Procedural Overreach
ECI slams AERO’s resignation as ‘Meaningless,’ flags disciplinary action
TMC team meets CEO with fresh set of demands
'Desperate attempt to derail crucial process': Suvendu Adhikari to CEC on Mamata Banerjee's SIR allegations
