The Election Commission of India has published the final voter list for West Bengal, revealing significant changes. Approximately 7 lakh names have been removed from the list, while 10.78 lakh new voters have been added. The list has been prepared based on data as of January 1, 2025.
Why Were Names Removed?
A majority of the names removed from the voter list were categorized as inactive voters. The Commission identified nearly 4 lakh voter IDs as inactive, primarily due to the deaths of these voters. Additionally, around 3 lakh voters who migrated to other states were also removed. Furthermore, 9,130 names were eliminated due to duplicate entries in the list.
Political Controversy Over the Voter List
The voter list has become a point of contention, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raising several allegations. Last month, a BJP delegation met with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, claiming that over 17 lakh names appeared twice in the draft voter list. The BJP highlighted that 32,886 such cases had identical voter photographs but were listed in different locations. The party also alleged that names of deceased voters had not been removed in many cases.
Concerns About Border Areas
The issue of illegal immigration has further fueled the debate. Allegations have been made about individuals illegally entering India and securing voter IDs through forged documents. In response, Trinamool Congress leader and state minister Firhad Hakim remarked that ensuring the authenticity of voter entries is the sole responsibility of the Election Commission.
Current Voter Statistics in West Bengal
The final voter list for West Bengal now includes a total of 7,63,96,165 voters, comprising:
- Male voters: 3,87,93,743
- Female voters: 3,76,01,611
- Third-gender voters: 1,811
This list will serve as the foundation for the upcoming electoral processes in the state.
Upcoming Voter List Updates
The Election Commission conducts voter list revisions four times a year. The next rounds of updates are scheduled for April, July, and October 2025, ensuring the inclusion of new voters and the removal of outdated entries.
Delhi Voter List Also Released
Alongside West Bengal, the Election Commission also released the final voter list for Delhi. With assembly elections in Delhi approaching, the updated list shows a total of 1,55,24,858 voters in the national capital.
The release of the updated voter list marks a significant step towards ensuring transparency and accuracy in the electoral process. While the removal of inactive and duplicate entries has addressed key issues, the allegations and political controversies highlight the need for continuous scrutiny and improvement.