Electoral Roll Discrepancy Sparks Controversy
A political dispute has erupted in West Bengal’s Birbhum district after the name of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) district council candidate from Maharashtra appeared on the voter list of Ward No. 12 in Dubrajpur Municipality, officials confirmed on Sunday. The unusual listing was revealed during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, leading to the issuance of a hearing notice to the Maharashtra BJP leader and drawing sharp criticism from rival political parties. The incident has not only raised questions about the integrity of the voter list but also fuelled accusations of attempts to manipulate electoral rolls ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
The BJP leader at the centre of the controversy is Ujjwala Burungle, who hails from Nashik, Maharashtra, and is already registered as a voter there. She contested the 2026 district council elections in Maharashtra as a BJP candidate, yet her name was found on West Bengal’s 2025 voter list, prompting officials to flag the entry and issue a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing notice to clarify the discrepancy.
Background on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Process
The Special Intensive Revision is an extensive exercise carried out by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to update and verify electoral rolls across states ahead of elections. The process requires voters to submit enumeration forms and relevant documentation to confirm their eligibility. Discrepancies discovered during this process can trigger hearing notices, after which authorities determine whether the entries should remain or be removed from the final electoral list.
Burungle reportedly submitted an enumeration form during the SIR exercise in West Bengal, after which officials identified inconsistencies in her voter registration details. This led to her being summoned for a hearing to explain the dual registration and justify her presence on the electoral roll of a state where she is not ordinarily resident.
Details of the Voter List Discrepancy
According to district election officials, Burungle’s name appears on the voter list of Ward No. 12 of Dubrajpur Municipality, a locality in Birbhum district where she is not believed to ordinarily reside. Her existing registration as a voter in Nashik, Maharashtra, where she contested local elections, makes the dual appearance on the list unusual and potentially against electoral rules that permit voter enrolment in only one state at a time.
The controversy has drawn attention because it involves the electoral process in a politically charged environment, with West Bengal preparing for its Assembly elections later this year. Political parties are particularly sensitive to changes in voter rolls, and anomalies can quickly become points of partisan conflict.
Political Reactions and Accusations
The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal has seized upon the discovery to level serious allegations against the BJP. Party leaders allege that the incident substantiates their long-standing claim that fake or ineligible names are being added to the voter list to influence electoral outcomes in favour of the BJP. They argue that this practice, if substantiated, could undermine the fairness of the electoral process and tilt the balance in closely contested Assembly seats.
In a social media post, TMC leaders reiterated earlier warnings made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about fraudulent voter entries. They have suggested that the inclusion of Burungle’s name in the West Bengal rolls is evidence of organized efforts to manipulate the voter list ahead of the elections, asserting that it reflects a broader pattern rather than an isolated error. The party called for immediate action by the Election Commission to investigate and address the issue comprehensively.
“These listings are not mistakes; they are deliberate attempts to tilt the democratic process,” said a TMC spokesperson, while insisting that the party will pursue the matter vigorously through formal complaints and legal channels.
BJP Response and Call for Investigation
The BJP, meanwhile, has rejected assertions of wrongdoing and called for an impartial probe into the matter. Anup Saha, the BJP MLA from the Dubrajpur Assembly constituency, stated that the Election Commission would examine how Burungle’s name appeared on two separate voter lists. He emphasised that discrepancies in voter rolls must be investigated transparently to uphold the credibility of the electoral process.
Saha noted that dual registration could result from administrative oversights or record mismatches, which the poll panel is well equipped to investigate and rectify if needed. He assured that the BJP would cooperate fully with electoral authorities to resolve the issue but cautioned against premature allegations that could damage democratic norms.
Possible Administrative Causes of Dual Enrollment
While political reactions have dominated the narrative, electoral experts and officials have noted that such anomalies can sometimes arise due to procedural errors. During the SIR, voters are required to submit identity and address verification documents. If duplicates or overlapping information is inadvertently accepted at different locations, it can result in a person’s name appearing on the electoral rolls of more than one state.
In this instance, sources familiar with the SIR process suggest that Burungle’s connection to West Bengal might have originated from long-term residence in the region. Public reports indicate that her husband, Appa Shankar Burungle, reportedly moved to Dubrajpur around 17 years ago for business reasons, which may have facilitated her entry into the local voter list during the revision exercise. However, this connection — if properly documented — will be scrutinised by electoral authorities as part of the hearing.
Nevertheless, the verification and hearing process will determine whether such claims are valid or whether there was an irregularity in how her name was captured in the voter list. The SIR hearing notice gives Burungle an opportunity to present evidence and clarify her voter status before any final decisions are made.
Implications for Electoral Integrity and Public Trust
The incident has reignited debates about the integrity of electoral rolls and the importance of accurate voter registration. Political analysts observe that while isolated cases of voter list discrepancies are not uncommon, they can become politically charged when they intersect with high-stakes elections. Ensuring that eligible voters are neither unjustly removed nor incorrectly added to voter lists is fundamental to maintaining public confidence in democratic processes.
Critics of the SIR process have previously raised concerns about its implementation, arguing that errors can occur due to administrative confusion or lack of clarity among officials and voters alike. At the same time, supporters of the exercise contend that SIR is essential for cleansing outdated or inaccurate electoral rolls and preventing fraud, though it must be executed with transparency and fairness.
Role of the Election Commission and Next Steps
The Election Commission of India plays a central role in administering the SIR and addressing any voter list discrepancies identified during the process. In cases like this, the Commission is expected to review evidence presented at hearings, cross-verify documentation, and determine whether names on the list should be confirmed, amended or removed.
Following the hearing notice issued to Burungle, the Election Commission will assess whether her name rightfully belongs on the West Bengal electoral list or if it should be struck off due to improper registration. The outcome will set an important precedent for how inter-state voter list anomalies are handled in future SIR exercises.
The broader SIR exercise continues across West Bengal ahead of the Assembly polls, with stringent verification steps in place. Officials have emphasised that only voters who provide valid identity documents and satisfy eligibility criteria will be included in the final voter list.
Balancing Administrative Accuracy and Political Sensitivity
The case of a Maharashtra BJP leader’s name appearing on a West Bengal voter list highlights the complex interplay between administrative procedures and political perceptions. As the hearing process unfolds, electoral authorities are tasked with discerning fact from speculation while upholding the principles of transparent and fair voter registration. Public confidence in elections depends on robust electoral roll management, particularly in the context of high-stakes state elections, making accurate and accountable implementation of processes like SIR more critical than ever.
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