In a fiery address at a public rally in Minakhan, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has made serious allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming that the party has deleted over 90 lakh names from the electoral rolls in a bid to seize control of the state. This assertion comes as the state gears up for its assembly elections, scheduled for April 23 and April 29, with vote counting set for May 4.
Banerjee, who is also the head of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), accused the BJP of orchestrating a systematic removal of voters to manipulate the electoral process. “You [the BJP] deleted names of over 90 lakh people to grab power in Bengal, but we will win,” she proclaimed, rallying her supporters and urging them to stay vigilant against what she termed “electoral injustice.”
The controversy stems from a recent special intensive revision of the electoral rolls, which reportedly saw nearly 91 lakh voters stricken from the lists. This figure represents approximately 11.9% of the electorate in West Bengal, which totals approximately 7.6 crore. The Election Commission had undertaken this revision process, which concluded after judicial officers reviewed about 60 lakh claims and objections raised by voters.
While the rationale for such deletions has not been universally accepted, Banerjee emphasized that affected voters have the opportunity to appeal their removal in one of 19 designated tribunals established for this purpose. In her address, she underscored the significance of these elections, framing them as a crucial battle for the survival of the people of West Bengal and the state’s very existence.
These claims of electoral manipulation are not new in the political landscape of West Bengal, where tensions between the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP have escalated in recent years. The BJP, which has aggressively pursued political gains in the state, has often been accused of employing divisive tactics to undermine the TMC’s long-standing dominance. As the election dates draw nearer, Banerjee’s rallying cry aims to mobilize her base and counter what she perceives as a threat to democratic processes.
As West Bengal prepares for a potentially contentious electoral contest, the focus will remain on the integrity of the electoral process and the actions of both major parties. With high stakes involved, the upcoming months will be critical for both Banerjee and the BJP as they seek to sway the electorate in a state that has become a significant battleground in Indian politics.
