SIR Impact : 70% of Bengal’s deleted voters are in Phase 1 seats

A striking concentration of voter deletions has emerged ahead of the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on April 23. An analysis of the Election Commission’s “Individuals under Adjudication” data shows that nearly 70% of all voters marked “not eligible” across the state are concentrated in constituencies voting in Phase 1. Out of roughly 27 lakh voters identified for deletion statewide, an estimated 18 - 20 lakh fall within Phase 1 seats - a phase that covers large parts of North Bengal, Malda, Murshidabad, Jangalmahal, and sections of central districts. The numbers point to a pattern that is difficult to ignore: the bulk of deletions is not spread evenly across phases, but clustered heavily in the very first round of polling.

A phase carrying the heaviest burden
Some of the highest deletion figures in the state are all part of Phase 1:
* Samserganj - 74,775
* Lalgola - 55,420
* Bhagabangola - 47,493
* Raghunathganj - 46,100
* Farakka - 38,222
* Suti - 37,965

These constituencies - clustered largely in Murshidabad and Malda districts - form the epicentre of deletions. In contrast, several constituencies in the same phase, particularly in Jangalmahal, report dramatically lower numbers. For instance, Jhargram records just 235 deletions, underscoring the uneven spread even within Phase 1.
The contrast is stark: from a few hundred in some seats to over 70,000 in others - all voting on the same day. The concentration of deletions in Phase 1 aligns closely with a specific geographic belt: Murshidabad & Malda - both border districts with majority Muslim population. 

A small reversal amid massive numbers

Amid these large-scale deletions, the data also records a small but notable correction: 139 individuals have been added back to the electoral rolls after Tribunal disposed off their cases. On the ground, the implications are deeply personal. In Murshidabad’s Samserganj, where deletions are the highest, Abdul Rahim, a farmer, says he only realised the issue when neighbours began checking their names. “We have voted for years. Now suddenly many names are missing. People are confused - what more proof is needed, what went wrong?”

In Malda’s Ratua, Sharmila Mandal, a homemaker, describes the anxiety spreading across communities. “In our village, it’s not just one group. Hindus, Muslims - everyone is checking lists. Everyone is worried. I am mapped with 2002 voter list but deleted owing to the change of my surname post marriage. The tribunal is yet to hear my case.”

What stands out from both the data and ground voices is a shared sense of uncertainty. While political narratives often frame voter list revisions along predictable lines, the reality appears more complex. The deletions are geographically concentrated, but socially widespread affecting different communities in different regions. In some constituencies, entire neighbourhoods are impacted; in others, the numbers are barely noticeable.

With Phase 1 carrying such a large share of deletions, the stakes are unusually high. The outcome of this phase will not just shape electoral results - it will also test the robustness and perception of the voter verification process itself.
As Bengal heads into polling, one question looms large: When 70% of deleted voters are concentrated in a single phase, is it merely an administrative coincidence or does it point to a deeper structural imbalance in how the rolls have been revised? “I am a Muslim, I am Indian and I hold Indian passport. But even after voting for the past 20 years, I have been deleted from the voter list now. It’s very unfortunate. My brother can vote today but I won’t because I am deleted. We shared every credential - and all are same for we two brothers. But one is cleared and the other is deleted”, said Seikh Sagir from Samserganj, Murshidabad.