In a significant development, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has approved the use of tea garden and cinchona plantation employment records as valid documents for identity and residence for the Special
Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls for seven districts in the northern parts of West Bengal.
In an official letter dated January 11, 2026 and addressed to the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, the poll body stated that the Commission has “no objection” to the state election authority’s proposal to accept these records in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, North Dinajpur, and South Dinajpur.
“I am directed to refer to you letter No. 5163-Home (Elec)/R3E-73/2025 dated 31.12.2025 and to state that the Commission has no objection to the proposal for the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur,” the order read.
The move followed recent appeals by BJP leaders, including Adhikari, who had urged the poll body to recognise these plantation records as proof of identity and residence amid concerns over voter exclusion during the SIR process.
Tea garden workers, predominantly from Adivasi and Gorkha communities, form a crucial vote bank in North Bengal and have historically faced challenges in proving residency for voter enrollment.
BJP Hails Move
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) applauded the decision, with West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari hailing the decision as a “major victory” for what he called the long-neglected voices of north Bengal.
“This approval applies to the districts of North Bengal, where our hardworking tribal & forest-dwelling people and plantation workers have long been deprived of their democratic rights due to documentation hurdles and the state government’s negligence,” the BJP leader said in a post on X.
उत्तर बंगाल की उपेक्षित आवाज़ों को मिली शानदार जीत!
मुझे यह साझा करते हुए बेहद खुशी हो रही है कि चुनाव आयोग ने पश्चिम बंगाल में मतदाता सूचियों के विशेष गहन पुनरीक्षण (एसआईआर) के लिए चाय बागानों और सिनकोना बागानों के रोजगार रिकॉर्ड को पहचान और निवास के वैध प्रमाण-पत्र के रूप में… pic.twitter.com/9OkzKZZD8j
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) January 11, 2026
He also urged all eligible voters in these areas to enrol themselves in the electoral rolls using their plantation employment records, saying that voting rights were the true strength of the people and essential for strengthening democracy.
BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya also applauded the decision saying that “this is not just an administrative decision, it is a restoration of dignity and voting rights to thousands who were deliberately kept out of the system.”
A BIG WIN FOR BJP BENGAL!
The long-ignored voices of North Bengal have finally been heard and justice has prevailed.
The Election Commission has APPROVED our request to recognise employment records of Tea Gardens and Cinchona Gardens as valid proof of identity and residence for… pic.twitter.com/7zoNd0xkH7
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) January 11, 2026
(With inputs from agencies)
