The Bengal's disappearing electorate: Election Despatch from Kolkata

In this edition of Election Despatch, India Today brings a ground report from Bengal where 27 lakh names were deleted from the electoral rolls under the logical discrepancy category during the SIR exercise. Following a Supreme Court directive, affected individuals can vote in the upcoming assembly elections if cleared by the Appellate Tribunal before the polling dates. Currently, 19 judges are stationed at a tribunal in Joka, Kolkata, to adjudicate lakhs of pending appeals. Citizens from across the state, including teachers on election duty, daily wage workers, and professionals, have travelled to the tribunal to present their documents. Many voters reported that their names were struck off without prior notice or valid reasons, with some citing alleged linkage errors. Despite presenting original documents such as passports, birth certificates, and old voter lists, individuals remain uncertain about their voting eligibility. With time running out before the elections, voters are waiting for the supplementary list to see if their appeals have been successful and their voting rights restored.