8 Lakh Voters Deleted in Bengal: Mamata Banerjee
Siliguri, March 25, 2026 — With the high-stakes West Bengal Assembly Elections fast approaching, a massive political storm has erupted over the state’s electoral rolls. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has leveled a severe allegation against the Election Commission of India (ECI), claiming the poll body has unjustifiably deleted the names of 8 lakh voters from the state’s electoral list.
The controversy centers around the recently published first supplementary list of the Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
The “Conspiracy” Allegations
Addressing the media and her party workers, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo expressed fierce outrage over the massive scale of the deletions. Banerjee alleged that the removal of 8 lakh names was not a routine administrative cleanup, but a calculated, deliberate attempt to disenfranchise legitimate voters ahead of the crucial 2026 state elections.
Without mincing words, the Chief Minister suggested that the deletions were specifically targeted at specific communities and regions that traditionally serve as TMC strongholds. She has urgently directed her party leaders and booth-level workers to cross-check the newly released supplementary lists and immediately assist affected citizens in re-registering before the final election deadlines.
What is the Special Summary Revision (SSR)?
The Election Commission conducts the Special Summary Revision annually across all states. The official objective of this massive administrative exercise is to ensure the purity and accuracy of the electoral rolls.
During the SSR, election officials add the names of newly eligible young voters (who have turned 18) and systematically remove the names of voters who have either passed away, permanently shifted their residence to another constituency, or are found to be registered in multiple locations (duplicate entries).
Political Fallout and Opposition Reaction
The TMC has announced that it will formally approach the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal to demand a transparent, detailed breakdown of the exact reasons behind the 8 lakh deletions.
Meanwhile, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state has swiftly dismissed the Chief Minister’s allegations. Opposition leaders have defended the Election Commission’s process, arguing that the massive deletion figure actually exposes the presence of “bogus and phantom voters” that had previously inflated the state’s electoral rolls. The BJP maintains that the EC’s purge is a necessary step to ensure a free, fair, and transparent election in 2026.
As both sides brace for a fierce electoral battle, the integrity of the voter list has now become the first major flashpoint of the Bengal election season.