Complaint alleges arbitrary deletion of Dalit voters in West Bengal’s Bagdah constituency

By A Representative 

A rights organisation has alleged large-scale arbitrary deletions of voters’ names from the electoral rolls in parts of West Bengal, raising concerns about disenfranchisement of marginalised communities ahead of upcoming elections. In a formal complaint addressed to the Election Commission of India, Kirity Roy, Secretary of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), cited specific cases from the Bagdah Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district where bona fide citizens, particularly women from Dalit and minority backgrounds, were allegedly removed from the rolls without due process.

The complaint highlights the case of Anima Das, a resident of Kashipur village under Bagdah police station, whose name was listed in the electoral roll of the 94 Bagdah (SC) Assembly Constituency but was later deleted despite her documented family linkage to voters in nearby Ranaghat. A similar allegation was made in the case of Salema Fakir from the same village, whose name also reportedly disappeared from the same electoral segment. According to the complaint, both individuals had valid Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) records and family members listed in earlier voter rolls, yet their names were removed without explanation.

The organisation further alleged that in Booth No. 56 of the Bagdah constituency, as many as 141 names were deleted out of a total of 1,021 voters, with several of those affected described as genuine electors. It claimed that affected individuals had filed Form 6 applications for inclusion and submitted petitions to district authorities, including the District Election Officer and District Magistrate of North 24 Parganas, but received no response.

Describing the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls as “chaotic and non-transparent,” the complaint accused local electoral authorities of procedural lapses and indifference. It alleged that minor clerical errors or administrative discretion were being used to exclude voters in border areas, disproportionately affecting women and socially marginalised groups. The organisation demanded immediate restoration of the deleted names, a time-bound inquiry into the handling of Form 6 applications, and directives to ensure that eligible voters are not excluded on technical grounds.

Concerns over voter list revisions and alleged exclusions have surfaced periodically in West Bengal, particularly in districts along the India-Bangladesh border such as North 24 Parganas. Political parties and civil society groups have, in past electoral cycles, raised allegations of both wrongful deletions and inclusions, often linking them to migration patterns, documentation gaps, and administrative errors. The Election Commission has maintained that electoral roll revisions follow due procedure, including verification and opportunities for claims and objections, and has repeatedly asserted its commitment to ensuring that no eligible voter is left out.

The latest complaint adds to these ongoing concerns, with the organisation urging urgent intervention to safeguard voting rights and uphold the integrity of the electoral process.