Suvendu Adhikari Claims 1 Crore ‘Rohingya, Bangladeshi, Fake Voters’ in Bengal; Calls on ECI for Urgent Action

Suvendu Adhikari Claims 1 Crore ‘Rohingya, Bangladeshi, Fake Voters’ in Bengal; Calls on ECI for Urgent Action

Kolkata, August 2, 2025:
In a move that has reignited political tensions in West Bengal, senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Suvendu Adhikari has alleged that the state’s voter list includes as many as 1 crore “Rohingya, Bangladeshi, and fake voters.” He has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to launch an immediate and thorough investigation into what he called a “massive threat to democratic integrity.”

Speaking at a press conference held in Kolkata, Adhikari described the alleged inclusion of these voters as “the single biggest electoral fraud in the history of independent India.” According to him, these names were added deliberately to manipulate election results in favor of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

“There are over 1 crore names that should not be on the voter list,” Adhikari declared. “These are not ordinary mistakes or clerical errors. They are Rohingya migrants, Bangladeshi infiltrators, and entirely fake voters, all included to change the outcome of elections.”

Formal complaint to ECI

The BJP leader confirmed that his party has already submitted a detailed memorandum to the Election Commission, providing what he described as evidence of large-scale discrepancies and suspicious voter registrations. He demanded that the Commission take urgent measures to review and clean the electoral rolls before the next round of local body and assembly elections in the state.

“We trust the Election Commission will act impartially and do what is necessary to protect democracy,” Adhikari said. “Otherwise, the people of Bengal will lose faith in the very process meant to reflect their will.”

Sharp political reactions

Adhikari’s remarks quickly drew a sharp response from the ruling Trinamool Congress. Senior TMC leader and state minister Firhad Hakim dismissed the allegations as “baseless, divisive, and politically motivated.” “The BJP knows it cannot defeat Mamata Banerjee through the ballot, so they are preparing the ground to discredit the result in advance,” Hakim said.

The TMC accused the BJP of trying to stoke communal tensions by linking voter list irregularities to communities such as Rohingyas and Bangladeshi migrants, both sensitive subjects in Bengal’s border districts.

Context of a politically charged state

West Bengal has historically seen intense political competition between the TMC and BJP, especially in recent election cycles. Issues of cross-border migration and demographic change have often featured in political campaigns, with parties trading accusations over illegal infiltration and its alleged impact on voting patterns.

Suvendu Adhikari’s latest allegation of 1 crore fake voters is significant, given that it represents almost 10% of the state’s total electorate, currently estimated at around 10.3 crore. If true, such a figure could dramatically alter election outcomes.

Political analysts, however, caution against taking such claims at face value without independent verification. “Large-scale voter roll irregularities have been alleged before, but concrete proof on this scale is rarely produced,” said Kolkata-based political commentator Dr. Swapan Roy.

ECI’s expected response

The Election Commission of India has not yet issued an official response to the BJP’s memorandum. However, ECI officials in the state confirmed receipt of the complaint and indicated that it would be examined as part of the ongoing process of electoral roll verification.

An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Every claim about irregularities or fake voters is taken seriously. There are standard protocols for verification, field inquiries, and public hearings before the rolls are finalized.”

Public and civic reactions

Among voters, reactions have been mixed. Some supporters of the BJP echoed Adhikari’s concerns, demanding stricter voter ID checks and verification drives. Others, including civic activists, warned that sweeping claims risked stigmatizing entire communities and undermining trust in democratic institutions.

“This kind of rhetoric can alienate genuine voters who have lived in Bengal for decades,” said Ananya Sen, a Kolkata-based lawyer specializing in election law.

Looking ahead

As Bengal prepares for upcoming municipal and panchayat polls, the debate over voter list integrity is likely to intensify. Suvendu Adhikari has promised that the BJP will not let the issue fade, while the TMC appears equally determined to challenge what it sees as an attempt to discredit its electoral base.

For now, all eyes are on the Election Commission, which must navigate political pressure from both sides while ensuring that the voter rolls are accurate, fair, and free of genuine irregularities.