Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Amid escalating political tensions over the revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Jay Prakash Majumdar has strongly criticized the Centre and the Election Commission, alleging bias and violation of democratic rights following the reported deletion of nearly 91 lakh voters from the state’s rolls.
Addressing the issue in Kolkata, Majumdar questioned the accountability of top constitutional authorities. “Who has taken the oath to protect the constitutional rights of the people? Narendra Modi. Who has taken the oath to protect democratic rights? Gyanesh Kumar,” he said, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
He emphasized that the right to vote is a fundamental pillar of Indian democracy and must be safeguarded without discrimination. “India’s Constitution guarantees one vote for every voter, whether for the Prime Minister or anyone else,” Majumdar stated, underlining the principle of electoral equality.
The TMC leader alleged that the Election Commission’s actions are politically motivated. “Narendra Modi and Gyanesh Kumar, leading the Election Commission, are seen as aligned with the BJP’s organisation. The Commission follows the BJP’s agenda,” he claimed, raising serious concerns about the independence of the poll body.
The controversy revolves around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, during which a large number of names were reportedly removed. While the Election Commission has maintained that such exercises are conducted to ensure accuracy and eliminate duplicate or ineligible entries, opposition parties, particularly the TMC, have questioned the scale and intent behind the deletions.
Majumdar’s remarks reflect the TMC’s broader stance that the voter list revision could disenfranchise legitimate voters. The party has repeatedly alleged that such actions may impact the fairness of upcoming elections in the state.
On the other hand, leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have defended the process, arguing that electoral roll revisions are essential to maintain transparency and prevent illegal voting, including by alleged infiltrators.
Political observers note that the issue of voter list revision has become a major flashpoint in West Bengal’s political landscape, with both sides accusing each other of undermining democratic processes.
As the debate intensifies, the controversy over the deletion of voters is likely to remain a central issue in the run-up to elections, raising questions about electoral integrity, institutional independence, and the protection of democratic rights.
