Trinamool Congress Leaders: A high-level delegation of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders visited several areas in Cooch Behar district on Sunday to meet voters whose names have reportedly gone missing from the latest Bengal voter list, escalating concerns over what the ruling party has termed a “systematic effort to disenfranchise genuine voters” ahead of the upcoming elections.
Trinamool Congress Leaders Meets Affected Voters
Led by senior leaders from the district Trinamool Congress, the delegation visited Tufanganj, Dinhata, and Mekhliganj, where locals claimed that their names, along with those of their family members, had been removed from the electoral rolls without prior notice. Several residents alleged that they had been regular voters for decades, making the sudden deletions both confusing and distressing.
One elderly voter, Purna Chandra Roy, shared, “I have been voting since 1985. This year, my name is gone. Nobody came to verify or inform me. I feel humiliated.” His statement mirrors dozens of similar accounts that have surfaced across the region in recent weeks.
TMC Accuses Election Machinery of Bias
The TMC delegation accused Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and certain Election Commission (EC) officials of negligence and bias, claiming that the removal of legitimate voters could affect election outcomes in key constituencies.
“We are witnessing a targeted attempt to delete names of voters known to support the Trinamool Congress,” alleged a senior TMC functionary during a press interaction. “If the Election Commission claims to be neutral, they must restore these names immediately after verification.”
The leaders submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate (DM), demanding urgent inquiry and restoration of voter names found missing from the rolls. They also sought disciplinary action against officials found guilty of misconduct.
Voters Express Fear and Anger
Many local residents expressed anger and anxiety over the situation. Some alleged that field verification teams never visited their homes, while others said they had been wrongly marked as “deceased” or “shifted.” In villages like Ghoksadanga and Sitai, several families claimed that at least two to three names per household had vanished from the voter list.
A college student from the area said, “We are educated and still our names have been struck off without reason. What will happen to people in remote areas who cannot even check online?”
Opposition Blames Administrative Lapses
While the TMC has called it an “organized conspiracy,” opposition parties like the BJP and CPIM have blamed administrative lapses and voter apathy. A BJP district spokesperson stated, “The process of electoral verification is ongoing. Instead of politicizing the issue, parties should assist voters to correct errors through official channels.”
However, the Left Front in North Bengal echoed the TMC’s demand for greater transparency, urging the Election Commission of India (ECI) to make the process of addition and deletion publicly accountable.
Election Commission Responds
In response to mounting criticism, district election officials in Cooch Behar clarified that voter verification and corrections were part of the ongoing Special Summary Revision (SSR) 2025, and that no voter would be arbitrarily removed.
“We are following Election Commission guidelines strictly,” said a senior election officer. “If names are deleted, they are done only after field verification. Citizens can apply for inclusion again using Form 6.”
Despite the assurance, local TMC leaders continued to allege large-scale irregularities. The party has now announced plans to deploy booth-level observers to cross-check deletions and help affected voters file re-inclusion requests.
Political Tensions Mount Across North Bengal
The incident has intensified political tensions in North Bengal, a region already known for its volatile electoral landscape. Following the Cooch Behar visit, similar reports have emerged from Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, and Malda, prompting the TMC to launch what it calls a “Voter Protection Campaign.”
Political observers suggest that this issue could become a major flashpoint in the months leading up to the 2026 Assembly elections.
“Voter list manipulation is not just a bureaucratic error — it’s a political weapon,” said Professor Arindam Mukherjee, a political scientist at North Bengal University. “If a party can influence the rolls, it can influence democracy itself.”
Public Appeal and Next Steps
The TMC delegation concluded their visit by urging citizens to verify their names online and at local election offices before the final publication of electoral rolls. They have also requested the State Election Commission to make the deletion list public, ensuring transparency and accountability.
In a public statement, TMC leaders emphasized that voter disenfranchisement would not be tolerated:
“We will go to every door, every village, and ensure that no genuine voter is denied their right to vote.”
The Election Commission, meanwhile, has promised to open grievance redressal camps across districts to help citizens rectify errors in the electoral rolls.
Impact on Bengal’s Democratic Landscape
The ongoing voter list controversy underscores broader concerns about electoral integrity and institutional accountability in Bengal. With technology-driven voter verification systems being implemented, errors may stem from data mismatches, but the lack of communication between officials and voters has amplified distrust.
Citizens and political parties alike are calling for greater transparency, real-time digital verification, and public access to voter roll revisions to prevent such disputes in the future.
Conclusion
The developments in Cooch Behar highlight the urgent need for electoral reform and vigilance across administrative levels. As West Bengal moves closer to another round of crucial elections, the Trinamool Congress appears determined to frame this issue as a battle for democracy itself — ensuring that every citizen’s right to vote remains intact and unquestioned.
External Links for Further Reading (Authoritative Sources)
- Election Commission of India – Official Portal
- Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal
- Voter Registration Process – Form 6 & 8 Guidelines
- Special Summary Revision 2025 – ECI Notification
- Trinamool Congress Official Website
Trinamool Congress Leaders: A high-level delegation of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders visited several areas in Cooch Behar district on Sunday to meet voters whose names have reportedly gone missing from the latest Bengal voter list, escalating concerns over what the ruling party has termed a “systematic effort to disenfranchise genuine voters” ahead of the upcoming elections.
Trinamool Congress Leaders Meets Affected Voters
Led by senior leaders from the district Trinamool Congress, the delegation visited Tufanganj, Dinhata, and Mekhliganj, where locals claimed that their names, along with those of their family members, had been removed from the electoral rolls without prior notice. Several residents alleged that they had been regular voters for decades, making the sudden deletions both confusing and distressing.
One elderly voter, Purna Chandra Roy, shared, “I have been voting since 1985. This year, my name is gone. Nobody came to verify or inform me. I feel humiliated.” His statement mirrors dozens of similar accounts that have surfaced across the region in recent weeks.
TMC Accuses Election Machinery of Bias
The TMC delegation accused Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and certain Election Commission (EC) officials of negligence and bias, claiming that the removal of legitimate voters could affect election outcomes in key constituencies.
“We are witnessing a targeted attempt to delete names of voters known to support the Trinamool Congress,” alleged a senior TMC functionary during a press interaction. “If the Election Commission claims to be neutral, they must restore these names immediately after verification.”
The leaders submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate (DM), demanding urgent inquiry and restoration of voter names found missing from the rolls. They also sought disciplinary action against officials found guilty of misconduct.
Voters Express Fear and Anger
Many local residents expressed anger and anxiety over the situation. Some alleged that field verification teams never visited their homes, while others said they had been wrongly marked as “deceased” or “shifted.” In villages like Ghoksadanga and Sitai, several families claimed that at least two to three names per household had vanished from the voter list.
A college student from the area said, “We are educated and still our names have been struck off without reason. What will happen to people in remote areas who cannot even check online?”
Opposition Blames Administrative Lapses
While the TMC has called it an “organized conspiracy,” opposition parties like the BJP and CPIM have blamed administrative lapses and voter apathy. A BJP district spokesperson stated, “The process of electoral verification is ongoing. Instead of politicizing the issue, parties should assist voters to correct errors through official channels.”
However, the Left Front in North Bengal echoed the TMC’s demand for greater transparency, urging the Election Commission of India (ECI) to make the process of addition and deletion publicly accountable.
Election Commission Responds
In response to mounting criticism, district election officials in Cooch Behar clarified that voter verification and corrections were part of the ongoing Special Summary Revision (SSR) 2025, and that no voter would be arbitrarily removed.
“We are following Election Commission guidelines strictly,” said a senior election officer. “If names are deleted, they are done only after field verification. Citizens can apply for inclusion again using Form 6.”
Despite the assurance, local TMC leaders continued to allege large-scale irregularities. The party has now announced plans to deploy booth-level observers to cross-check deletions and help affected voters file re-inclusion requests.
Political Tensions Mount Across North Bengal
The incident has intensified political tensions in North Bengal, a region already known for its volatile electoral landscape. Following the Cooch Behar visit, similar reports have emerged from Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, and Malda, prompting the TMC to launch what it calls a “Voter Protection Campaign.”
Political observers suggest that this issue could become a major flashpoint in the months leading up to the 2026 Assembly elections.
“Voter list manipulation is not just a bureaucratic error — it’s a political weapon,” said Professor Arindam Mukherjee, a political scientist at North Bengal University. “If a party can influence the rolls, it can influence democracy itself.”
Public Appeal and Next Steps
The TMC delegation concluded their visit by urging citizens to verify their names online and at local election offices before the final publication of electoral rolls. They have also requested the State Election Commission to make the deletion list public, ensuring transparency and accountability.
In a public statement, TMC leaders emphasized that voter disenfranchisement would not be tolerated:
“We will go to every door, every village, and ensure that no genuine voter is denied their right to vote.”
The Election Commission, meanwhile, has promised to open grievance redressal camps across districts to help citizens rectify errors in the electoral rolls.
Impact on Bengal’s Democratic Landscape
The ongoing voter list controversy underscores broader concerns about electoral integrity and institutional accountability in Bengal. With technology-driven voter verification systems being implemented, errors may stem from data mismatches, but the lack of communication between officials and voters has amplified distrust.
Citizens and political parties alike are calling for greater transparency, real-time digital verification, and public access to voter roll revisions to prevent such disputes in the future.
Conclusion
The developments in Cooch Behar highlight the urgent need for electoral reform and vigilance across administrative levels. As West Bengal moves closer to another round of crucial elections, the Trinamool Congress appears determined to frame this issue as a battle for democracy itself — ensuring that every citizen’s right to vote remains intact and unquestioned.
External Links for Further Reading (Authoritative Sources)
- Election Commission of India – Official Portal
- Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal
- Voter Registration Process – Form 6 & 8 Guidelines
- Special Summary Revision 2025 – ECI Notification
- Trinamool Congress Official Website
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