The Trinamool Congress has initiated an extensive door-to-door verification drive in Bhabanipur, the assembly constituency represented by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, following the deletion of nearly 45,000 voters from the draft electoral rolls. The deletions occurred during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision conducted by the Election Commission of India, raising political concerns due to the scale of the changes.
According to party sources, the removed names constitute approximately 22 percent of the total electorate in the constituency. In response, the TMC leadership has directed booth-level agents and local party workers to physically verify the status of each deleted voter. The objective is to confirm whether the deletions are justified or if eligible voters have been wrongly excluded from the rolls.
Senior TMC leaders said the verification exercise would help identify errors and ensure that genuine voters are not deprived of their democratic right. Booth-level agents have been instructed to visit households, check voter details, and document cases where names have been removed despite residents meeting eligibility criteria. The findings will be compiled and submitted to election authorities for rectification within the stipulated time frame.
The party has maintained that it respects the Election Commission’s authority to conduct voter list revisions but has raised concerns over the unusually high number of deletions in a single constituency. TMC leaders argued that such large-scale exclusions warrant closer scrutiny, especially in a politically significant seat like Bhabanipur.
The Special Intensive Revision is aimed at cleaning electoral rolls by removing duplicate, deceased, or ineligible voters while ensuring that eligible citizens are included. Election officials have stated that the process follows established procedures and provides opportunities for claims and objections. However, opposition parties across the country have raised apprehensions about potential errors affecting voter participation.
In West Bengal, the TMC has said it will assist voters in filing claims and objections wherever discrepancies are found. Party leaders have also urged citizens to check their names in the draft rolls and report issues promptly. The verification drive is expected to continue over the coming days until all deleted names are reviewed.
Political observers note that voter list revisions often become contentious, particularly in high-profile constituencies. The situation in Bhabanipur has added to the broader national debate on electoral roll accuracy and transparency during revision exercises.
The Election Commission has reiterated that the Special Intensive Revision process includes safeguards and multiple levels of verification. It has encouraged political parties and voters to actively participate in the revision process to ensure accurate and inclusive electoral rolls.
As the exercise continues, the outcome of the TMC’s verification drive is likely to play a key role in shaping the party’s response and any formal representations made to election authorities regarding the Bhabanipur constituency.
