The Election Commission of India has flagged more than 47 lakh names for deletion from voter rolls in West Bengal amid the SIR process. Officials have also found three villages in the eastern state with “zero self-mapping with the 2002 SIR data” —dubbing it a nearly impossible scenario. The updates came even as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a protest rally against the ongoing revision of voter rolls in Malda district.
According to an Indian Express report quoting EC sources, the provisional figure for name deletions has now reached 47,06,902. This includes 22,45,861 dead voters, 16,53,833 shifted voters, 6,76,621 untraceable or “ghost” voters, 1,07,781 duplicate voters, and 22,806 people whose names will be removed for other reasons.
‘Zero self mapping’
At least three areas in West Bengal have come under scrutiny for having an entirely different set of voters when compared against the 2002 voter rolls. The situation has been deemed “almost impossible” by officials — involving more than 2000 voters. The booths in question are Part 110, Dinahata Assembly constituency (Cooch Behar) with 782 electors; Part 48, Kultali Assembly constituency (South 24 Parganas) with 768 electors, and Part 53, Pandua Assembly constituency (Hooghly) with 668 electors.
“We found three villages in West Bengal where there is zero self-mapping with the 2002 SIR roll. This means none of the current voters of that booth were living there in 2002, which is almost impossible. We have ordered an inquiry,” a senior EC official told Indian Express.
Mamata Banerjee leads protest
The West Bengal Chief Minister led fresh protests against the ongoing revision of voter rolls on Wednesday and addressed a rally in Malda. She also assured that nobody would be sent to detentions centre during the SIR process — emphasising her role as a protector of the people.
“Malda people don’t worry no one going to detention centre…. I’m here as your pehradar. May I help you…camp start from 12 dec in all blocks. For help any queries regarding documents….They know elections are coming, election declare in Feb, that’s why they’re start cleverly….Home department do this…Otherwise SIR process or Bangla dakhal………….no I will Stop you in your plan …..Don’t worry about SIR,” she said.
