KOLKATA: Even as political parties in West Bengal continue to voice concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the issue appears to have limited resonance among the general electorate, emerging more as a strategic matter for political players rather than a mass-level electoral flashpoint.
Across multiple constituencies in the state, voters appear largely indifferent to the debate surrounding the revision of voter lists. For many, the exercise has been viewed as a routine administrative process. “People are not discussing it in tea stalls or local gatherings. For them, it was simply about verifying whether their names were on the list,” said a local observer familiar with voter behaviour in semi-urban regions.
Reports from the ground indicate that the issue has mainly impacted those whose names have been removed from the electoral rolls. This group, though relatively small, has expressed concern and, in some instances, dissatisfaction. However, a sizeable section of residents believes that most deletions occurred in cases where individuals were unable to provide the required documentation during the verification process. “Those who had valid documents have retained their names. Many feel the process has been fair,” said a resident from North 24 Parganas.
Anirban, a voter from Bally Assembly constituency, told the publication that no voters in his locality have faced issues related to deletion. He added that in Bally, SIR has had little to no impact, as all residents are considered legitimate voters.
A similar situation is visible in neighbouring constituencies, where SIR has not significantly influenced voter sentiment. Ranjeet Singh, who owns a factory in Howrah, stated that although a number of names have been deleted, the impact on the ground remains minimal, as none of the deletions appear to be unlawful. Dilip Rana, a resident of a nearby constituency, shared that his name was removed because it was also registered in the electoral roll of Bihar. During the SIR process, he was unable to provide sufficient proof to qualify for inclusion in the West Bengal electoral roll.
Dipanjon, a voter from Thakurnagar, said that in his constituency, deletions were observed primarily in areas dominated by the Minority community. However, he emphasized that only those individuals who failed to present valid documentation to the Election Commission of India were affected.
Even in Pingla constituency of Paschim Medinipur, the issue does not appear to carry much weight despite reports of deletions. A young voter named Surajeet told the newspaper that Dakshingram, a settlement largely inhabited by members of the minority community who are not permanent residents of the constituency saw deletions. He added that these individuals are the ones raising concerns, while permanent residents continue to trust their names will remain.
Although the impact of the SIR exercise has been most visible in the border districts of the state—where the minority population often exceeds 50%—the process has largely been carried out in an administrative manner, with names removed only in cases where individuals failed to furnish valid documentation. These regions have historically witnessed instances of cross-border migration, which, according to some observers, has made it easier for certain individuals to procure forged documents and get their names included in electoral rolls. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has been raising strong objections to the exercise, portraying it as a major issue. Political observers suggest that this is partly because minority communities in these areas have traditionally formed a core support base for the party.
Any significant deletion of names from these segments, they argue, could potentially influence electoral outcomes in closely contested constituencies.
A political analyst, speaking to The Sunday Guardian, noted that while SIR has not emerged as a mass issue, its implications remain significant. “This is not an emotionally driven issue for voters, but it is highly strategic for political parties. Even small changes in voter lists can influence outcomes in tightly contested seats,” the analyst said.
In several Assembly segments, victory margins in previous elections have been relatively narrow—often between 3,000 and 5,000 votes. In such cases, if the number of deleted or newly added names matches or exceeds these margins, it could decisively swing the result in favour of one party.
