Fresh data released by the Election Commission has revealed that Muslim-dominated constituencies in Murshidabad recorded the highest number of voter deletions after post-adjudication of electoral rolls, sparking political debate ahead of the state elections.
Among the worst-hit were Shamsherganj and Lalgola constituencies. In Shamsherganj, 74,775 names were deleted out of 1,08,400 under scrutiny, while in Lalgola, 55,420 voters were removed from a list of 99,082.
These figures form part of a larger exercise in which around 27 lakh names were struck off electoral rolls across West Bengal. The state’s total voter count now stands at approximately 6.7 crore.
Significant Deletions Across Several Districts
Apart from Murshidabad, large-scale deletions were also reported in districts like Malda, North Dinajpur, South 24 Parganas and Birbhum.
Matua-dominated areas in North 24 Parganas and Nadia also witnessed notable voter removals.
In Malda’s Mothabari, over 37,000 names were deleted out of 79,683 under adjudication. The issue triggered protests earlier this month, with clashes reported between locals and security forces.
Electoral Rolls Frozen Ahead of Polls
The Election Commission has now frozen voter lists for the upcoming elections. Rolls for 142 constituencies voting in the second phase on April 29 were sealed on Thursday, while those for the first phase (152 seats) had already been finalised on April 6.
No further additions, deletions or corrections will be allowed until the elections conclude.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of India is scheduled to hear a plea by the state government on April 13, offering a limited window of hope for those whose names have been removed.
Political Reactions and Allegations
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly raised concerns, alleging that the deletions amount to “targeted exclusions.”
Community leaders have also expressed anxiety. Sukesh Chowdhury of the All India Matua Mahasangha said the large-scale removals have created fear among voters, though assurances of legal support have provided some relief.
On the other hand, leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party said affected voters would be helped in approaching tribunals to restore their names.
Uneven Impact Across Constituencies
The scale of deletions varied widely across the state. In some constituencies like Bongaon, deletion rates ranged between 67% and 88%, while in parts of Nadia, over 90% of those under scrutiny were removed.
However, high-profile seats saw relatively lower impact. In Bhowanipore, around 27.5% of voters under adjudication were removed, while Nandigram recorded a 32.6% deletion rate.
In contrast, tribal regions like Purulia and Jhargram reported minimal deletions. In Manbazar, only 71 out of 2,771 names were removed, while Onda recorded just about 1% deletion.
