Murshidabad and Malda Emerge
Following a meticulous adjudication process by the Election Commission, West Bengal's electoral rolls have seen a substantial number of voter names removed.
The data indicates a distinct geographical concentration of these deletions, with the Muslim-dominated border districts of Murshidabad and Malda significantly featuring in the top constituencies affected. Out of the 60.06 lakh names initially under scrutiny, 27.16 lakh, representing 45.22% of the total, have been removed. Notably, all ten Assembly constituencies that experienced the highest number of deletions are currently represented by the Trinamool Congress (TMC). This trend suggests a focused impact within these specific regions following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Top Deletion Constituencies
The Election Commission's released data sheds light on the specific constituencies bearing the brunt of voter deletions. Samserganj in Murshidabad leads this list with an alarming 74,775 deletions, accounting for 29.57% of its pre-SIR electorate. Following closely are Lalgola (55,420 deletions, 21.96%) and Bhagabangola (47,493 deletions, 16.85%), also in Murshidabad. Raghunathganj, another Murshidabad seat, recorded 46,100 deletions. Metiaburuz in South 24 Parganas is the sole constituency from that district within the top ranks, with 39,579 deletions. The district of Malda also features prominently with Mothabari experiencing 37,255 deletions (17.53%) and Ratua with 35,573 deletions (11.9%). The remaining seats in the top ten are Farakka and Suti, both from Murshidabad, and Jangipur, also from Murshidabad. This concentration highlights a significant electoral revision in these particular areas.
Underlying Trends Revealed
An Election Commission official commented on the ongoing trend of major deletions, noting its continuation during the adjudication phase. Earlier phases of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) primarily saw deletions in minority, Matua, and Hindi-speaking areas, a pattern that persisted. Beyond the top ten, twelve Assembly constituencies saw over 30,000 names deleted. These include Karandighi and Goalpokhor in Uttar Dinajpur, which have substantial Muslim populations, recording 31,562 (11.22%) and 31,384 (12.64%) deletions respectively. Additionally, 99 Assembly seats experienced deletions exceeding 10,000 voters. Constituencies with a high proportion of Matua and Muslim voters, such as Rajarhat-New Town near Kolkata (24,132 deletions, 7.4%), also showed considerable voter removals.
Regions with Minimal Impact
In stark contrast to the heavily affected districts, certain regions of West Bengal experienced minimal impact from the voter deletion process during the adjudication phase. The 'Adivasi' (tribal) belt encompassing districts like Bankura and Purulia reported the lowest levels of deletions. For instance, the Manbazar Assembly seat in Purulia district saw a mere 71 electors removed from its rolls. Similarly, the Onda constituency in Bankura recorded only 114 deletions. These figures stand in sharp relief to the thousands of names removed in other constituencies, indicating a localized and concentrated effect of the electoral revision process.
Protests and Ramifications
The significant number of voter deletions in areas like Malda district led to widespread public discontent and protests. On April 1, major thoroughfares, including National Highway-12, were blocked by demonstrators whose names or those of their relatives had been removed from the electoral rolls. The situation escalated in the Mothabari Assembly constituency, located in Malda and among the top ten for deletions. Protesters surrounded seven judicial officers at the Kaliachak-II BDO office for several hours, requiring a police intervention late at night. During the rescue operation, clashes erupted, with protesters pelting stones at the police and injuring two constables. At least 35 individuals were subsequently arrested in connection with these disturbances, highlighting the volatile public reaction to the electoral roll changes.
