58 Lakh Voters Dropped from Bengal Draft Roll

West Bengal’s electoral rolls have undergone one of their biggest cleanups in decades, with over 58 lakh names removed from the draft voters’ list released after the Special Intensive Revision process. The revised draft comes as the state prepares for the next assembly elections.

The deletions span multiple categories. More than 24 lakh names were removed after being identified as deceased. Nearly 20 lakh voters were struck off for permanently relocating outside their constituencies, while over 12 lakh names were marked as missing after officials failed to trace them at their registered addresses. Duplicate entries accounted for over 1.38 lakh deletions, and around 57,000 names were removed for miscellaneous reasons.

The revision has also flagged widespread data inconsistencies. Several million voters have been placed under verification due to mismatches in personal details such as parentage, age gaps with parents or grandparents, and gender discrepancies. A large number of voters above 45 years of age were also found missing from the reference electoral list used during the last intensive revision.

Field-level officers will now conduct door-to-door verification for voters flagged with discrepancies. If inconsistencies persist, voters may be called for formal hearings before electoral registration officials.

The draft roll is open for public scrutiny, with a fixed period for claims and objections by citizens and political parties. After hearings and verification, the final voters’ list will be published ahead of the elections.

With lakhs of names removed and millions more under review, the revision is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the electoral landscape of the state.