Archive · 20 Nov 2025
Transgender Concerns & EC's Assembly Election Preparations in West Bengal
Some transgender people in Kolkata are worried that a new voting registration process in West Bengal might leave them out.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission is preparing for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state, starting with checking and demonstrating EVMs.
Transgender community members met with West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer to express concerns about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process
EC team begins preparations for West Bengal Assembly elections with EVM checks
EC team urges Nadia district administration to complete SIR digitisation by November 26
EC team to review SIR process in Malda and Murshidabad districts on Thursday
EC team to meet all district magistrates and demonstrate EVMs on November 21
- Who
- Transgender community members in Kolkata and Election Commission team led by Gyanesh Bharti
- What
- Expressed concerns over the SIR process and began preparations for Assembly elections respectively
- When
- Wednesday (meeting with trans community) and ongoing (EC's preparations)
- Where
- Kolkata, West Bengal
- Why
- To raise awareness about potential exclusions and vulnerabilities in the new voting registration process (trans community), and to ensure smooth conduct of Assembly elections (EC)
Transgender Community
Election Commission of India
Voting Rights
Transgender Community
Should not depend on belonging to a Guru-led household or having parental identity details
Election Commission of India
Intends to ease enrolment but may exclude some transgenders
Recognition
Transgender Community
Want to be recognized as individuals, not through family or Guru lineage
Election Commission of India
Has reached out to the community and instructed district administrations to prevent harassment
- Process
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process for voter registration in West Bengal
- Concern
- Exclusion of transgenders not part of Hijra community or gharana system
- Potential Issue
- Reinforcement of outdated assumptions about transgender lives and identities
- Fear
- Deepening vulnerabilities and worsening exploitation within Guru-disciple structures
- Request
- Recognition of trans people as individuals, not through family or Guru lineage
- Assembly Elections
- Scheduled between April and May next year
- EVMs
- Around 1.30 lak ballot units and control units and more than 1.25 lakh VVPAT machines required
Sources
Transgenders not part of Hijra community fear exclusion after ECI’s Guru Maa mandate for SIR
Bengal SIR: ECI urges Nadia district to complete digitisation of electoral rolls by November 26
SIR on, EC team begins preparations for West Bengal Assembly elections with EVM checks
Identifying foreigners: Will SIR achieve its goal? Lower on efficiency, higher on socio-economic cost
At Hakimpur Checkpost, Hundreds Wait To Cross Back To Bangladesh Amid SIR Fear
Poll panel team reviews SIR process in Nadia
Daily Briefing: Nitish is back
Bengal SIR: ECI sets daily digitisation targets for enumeration forms
Voter revision drive SIR sees 'reverse exodus', illegal migrants head back to Bangladesh
Bengal minister indirectly accuses CEC of taking favours; BJP hits back
SIR in West Bengal: Submitted enumeration form? Step-by-step guide to check if BLO has uploaded it on voters.eci.gov.in
‘BLOs pushed to submit incorrect entries’: Mamata urges CEC Gyanesh Kumar to ‘intervene’ and halt SIR in Bengal
‘SIR being run in dangerous manner’: Mamata Banerjee to CEC - India News
Mamata writes to CEC, urges him to halt ‘chaotic, coercive’ SIR of voter rolls
Shielding voter base built fraudulently for political survival: BJP on Mamata’s SIR letter to EC
CM Mamata Banerjee Requests EC to Halt SIR in West Bengal, Calls the Excercise “Coercive’ and ‘Unplanned’
