Kolkata – The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the full team of the Election Commission of India (ECI) arrived in Kolkata on March 8 for a three-day visit to check preparations for the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections. But their trip started with loud protests. People showed black flags and shouted slogans at the airport, the hotel where they stayed, and even at the famous Kalighat Temple. This anger comes from a big fight over the deletion of names from the voter lists during a special check called the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Many in West Bengal, especially from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), say the deletions are not fair and are taking away the right to vote from real citizens.
The visit by the ECI team is important because the state assembly polls are set for later this year. The team, which includes CEC Kumar and other election commissioners, planned meetings with political parties, district officials, and police to make sure everything is ready for a smooth election. But the mood in the city was tense right from the start. As soon as the CEC’s plane landed, groups of protesters gathered outside the airport. They waved black flags and chanted “Go back” and other slogans against the ECI. Police had to step in to keep things under control and let the team move to their hotel.
Later that day, when CEC Kumar went to visit the Kalighat Temple in south Kolkata, more protests happened. Protesters from TMC and Left parties showed black flags again and raised voices against what they call wrong deletions in the voter rolls. Kumar stayed calm during all this. After his temple visit, he greeted people with “Jai Bharat” and did not comment much on the protests. Police quickly handled the situation so that the visit could go on as planned. No one was hurt, but the events showed how upset many people are about the voter list issue.
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and Deletions
The main reason for these protests is the SIR process that the ECI started in November 2025. This was a special drive to update the voter lists in West Bengal. The goal was to remove names of people who had died, moved away, or were listed more than once. On February 28, 2026, the final voter list after SIR was published. It showed that about 63.66 lakh names were deleted from the rolls. That’s around 8.3 percent of all voters in the state. The total number of voters went down from 7.66 crore to about 7.04 crore.
Out of these deletions, officials say many were for valid reasons. For example, names of dead people were removed based on records, and others were taken off because they could not be found during house-to-house checks. But another 60.06 lakh voters are still “under adjudication.” This means their names are being checked further by legal officers to see if they should stay or go. The ECI says this is to make sure only real citizens vote and to stop fake voting. But many people complain that even those with proper papers like Aadhaar, ration cards, or passports have lost their names or are under check.
In some areas, whole families say their names are gone. For instance, in places like Manicktala in north Kolkata, residents protested saying at least 270 names were deleted from one neighborhood. Similar complaints came from the Matua community areas, where people worry about citizenship issues linked to the voter list. The ECI has set up 501 judicial officers to look into these cases, but many fear it will take too long, and some might not get to vote in the elections.
TMC’s Strong Allegations Against ECI and BJP
The TMC, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has been the loudest in protesting these deletions. Banerjee started a sit-in protest on March 6 at Esplanade in Kolkata. She called it a dharna against “arbitrary deletions” that she says are part of a plan by the BJP and ECI to stop real voters from casting their ballots. On the first day, she brought 22 people to the stage who were marked as “dead” in the voter list but were very much alive. She also talked about eight families who faced problems because of this.
Banerjee accused the BJP of using the ECI like a “Vanish Commission” to erase names of Bengali-speaking people and divide the state. “They are misusing the Vanish Commission to erase legitimate voters from electoral rolls,” she said during her speech on the third day of the protest. She stayed overnight at the site with other TMC leaders and workers. TMC leaders like Chandrima Bhattacharya and Firhad Hakim met the ECI team and raised concerns about “serious irregularities” in the SIR process. They wrote letters to the CEC and the state’s Chief Electoral Officer asking for fixes.
Even some TMC MLAs and leaders found their own names under check. For example, three-time MLA Rafiqur Rahaman from Amdanga, and others like Toraf Hossain Mandal from Kumarganj and Swati Khandoker from Chanditala are under adjudication. TMC says this shows the process is biased and aimed at weakening their strong areas. “If elected leaders are questioned, what about common people?” asked a TMC spokesperson. They also pointed out that even some Booth Level Officers (BLOs) who helped in the SIR have their names flagged.
BJP’s Response: Calls It Drama to Protect Fake Voters
The BJP has hit back hard at the TMC’s claims. They say the protests are just “drama” to hide the fact that many fake voters, including infiltrators, were on the lists before. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who is the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, said the deletions are needed to clean up the rolls. “TMC formed government three times with the power of false voters, that is why they are crying now,” said BJP MP Dilip Ghosh.
During their meeting with the ECI team, BJP leaders asked for the elections to be held in just one or two phases instead of many, because of law and order worries. They also want more central forces to be sent to the state to stop any violence during polls. BJP says the SIR was done in a fair way and that TMC is scared because their “fake vote bank” is gone. They pointed out that only about 3 lakh Matua community members were affected, and those who applied under CAA can still vote.
ECI’s Stance: Process Is Transparent and Ongoing
The ECI has defended the SIR process. CEC Kumar said the aim is to make sure no eligible voter is left out while removing those who should not be there. “Any negligence in maintaining law and order or ensuring free and fair elections would not be tolerated,” he warned state officials during a meeting. The ECI admitted that some officials like BLOs and District Election Officers did not follow rules properly, which caused mistakes. But they say people can still apply using Forms 6, 7, or 8 to add, delete, or correct names.
Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal said only about seven lakh out of the 60.06 lakh under adjudication have been resolved so far. He added that the process is transparent and based on documents. But critics say it’s too slow, and with elections coming, many might miss out. The ECI team also met with other parties like CPI(M) and Congress, who also raised issues about deletions and asked for quick fixes.
Meetings and Poll Preparations
During the three-day visit, the ECI team held many meetings. On the first day, they talked with district magistrates and police superintendents about security and poll setup. Political parties came one by one to share their views. TMC focused on voter rights and asked for the SIR to be stopped or redone. Opposition parties like BJP and CPI(M) pushed for fewer phases and more forces.
CPI(M) leader Mohammed Salim called the SIR “an anti-people exercise” with many flaws. He said the officials involved had “ghosts in the mustard seeds,” meaning big problems. Congress also held a protest march against the deletions, saying it hurts genuine voters. The ECI promised to look into all complaints and make sure the elections are fair.
Central forces have already started coming to West Bengal as part of the preparations. The state CEO reviewed readiness, and more meetings are planned for March 9 and 10 before the team leaves.
Implications for the 2026 Assembly Elections
This voter list row could change how the elections turn out. West Bengal has 294 assembly seats, and TMC has been in power since 2011. With over 1.23 crore voters affected (deletions plus under check), it might shift votes in close seats. Areas with many minorities or Matua community could see big changes.
Mamata Banerjee’s protest has brought back her old style of street politics. She says she will win even if voters are deleted, like in her own Bhabanipur seat where 60,000 names are gone. “I challenge you to delete the entire voter list,” she said. But the fight has made the atmosphere charged, and law and order could be a big issue.
The Supreme Court is also involved. Banerjee went there to challenge the SIR, but no big decision has come yet. As polls get closer, everyone is watching how the ECI handles this to keep trust in the system.
FAQs
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?
The SIR is a special process by the Election Commission to update voter lists. It started in West Bengal in November 2025 to remove names of dead, shifted, or duplicate voters. House-to-house checks were done, and documents were verified. The final list came out on February 28, 2026, with 63.66 lakh deletions and 60.06 lakh under further check. The ECI says it’s to make lists clean, but critics say it’s not fair.
Why are people protesting against the CEC in Kolkata?
Protests happened because many believe the voter deletions are wrong and aimed at real voters. TMC says it’s a BJP-ECI plan to help BJP win. Protesters showed black flags at the airport, hotel, and temple during CEC Kumar’s visit on March 8. They want the deletions stopped and names added back.
How many names were deleted from the voter list?
About 63.66 lakh names were deleted, which is 8.3% of the total. Reasons include death, not found at home, or duplicates. Plus, 60.06 lakh are under adjudication, meaning their cases are being looked at by officers. Total affected is over 1.23 crore.
What is Mamata Banerjee’s role in this?
Mamata Banerjee started a sit-in protest on March 6 in Kolkata. She accuses BJP and ECI of conspiracy to remove Bengali voters. She showed examples of “dead” people who are alive and says even MLAs are affected. Her protest entered the third day on March 8, and she stayed there with supporters.
What does the BJP say about the deletions?
BJP says the deletions remove fake voters and infiltrators. They call TMC’s protests drama to protect their vote bank. BJP wants elections in 1-2 phases with more security.
Can deleted voters get their names back?
Yes, people can apply using Form 6 for new addition, Form 7 for deletion, or Form 8 for correction. The ECI says the process is ongoing, and judicial officers are checking cases.
When are the West Bengal assembly elections?
The elections are expected in April-May 2026, but dates are not announced yet. The ECI is reviewing preparations now.
Is the SIR process fair?
The ECI says yes, it’s transparent and based on rules. But parties like TMC, CPI(M), and Congress say there are mistakes, and officials did not follow instructions properly.
What happens to voters under adjudication?
Their eligibility is checked with documents. If proven, they stay on the list. About seven lakh cases are resolved so far, but many are pending.
How does this affect the elections?
It could change vote counts in some areas. If many voters are left out, it might help or hurt parties. Law and order could be an issue if protests continue.