EC removes 183 names from one booth in Bengal, many from Matua community
At West Bengal's Booth Number 173, 186 voters had earlier been flagged as "under review"; the final roll shows 183 names removed, two cases pending and one voter retaining their status.
The Election Commission has removed 183 individuals from the electoral roll at a single booth in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas ahead of the Assembly polls, raising renewed concerns about the Special Intensive Revision process and its impact on marginalized border communities.
At Booth Number 173 in the Bongaon South Assembly constituency, 186 voters had earlier been flagged as "under review"; the final roll shows 183 names removed, two cases pending and one voter retaining their status.
The scale of deletions in a single area has prompted questions about the criteria and timing of the review. Residents say the move is not merely administrative but also a blow to their identity and citizenship.
Most of those affected belong to the Matua community, many of whom have lived in Chandpara for decades.
Dilip Das, whose name was removed, said, "We have been living here for years, participating in every election. Suddenly being told we aren't voters anymore is terrifying. It feels like our identity is being erased overnight."
The deletions have caused particular anxiety among women and the elderly. Laxmi Singh Sarkar said, “We don’t know where to go or who to approach. We have all the necessary documents, yet our names have been removed. The uncertainty is keeping us awake at night.”
Tarani Sarkar added, “Most of us here belong to the Matua community. Seeing such a large number of names cancelled from a single booth feels targeted, and we are now living in deep anxiety over what this means for our families.”
Bongaon South, a stronghold of the Matua community, has long been central to debates over citizenship and electoral legitimacy. The latest deletions have renewed concerns about the Special Intensive Revision process and its effects on marginalised border communities.
Local leaders have criticised the administration, saying that while review protocols are cited, the outcome effectively silences a specific demographic’s political voice.
As residents seek legal and administrative remedies, tensions remain high in Chandpara, with many fearing these deletions could signal a wider trend. For now, 183 families at Booth 173 remain in electoral limbo, awaiting clarity and the restoration of their voting rights.
The Election Commission has removed 183 individuals from the electoral roll at a single booth in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas ahead of the Assembly polls, raising renewed concerns about the Special Intensive Revision process and its impact on marginalized border communities.
At Booth Number 173 in the Bongaon South Assembly constituency, 186 voters had earlier been flagged as "under review"; the final roll shows 183 names removed, two cases pending and one voter retaining their status.
The scale of deletions in a single area has prompted questions about the criteria and timing of the review. Residents say the move is not merely administrative but also a blow to their identity and citizenship.
Most of those affected belong to the Matua community, many of whom have lived in Chandpara for decades.
Dilip Das, whose name was removed, said, "We have been living here for years, participating in every election. Suddenly being told we aren't voters anymore is terrifying. It feels like our identity is being erased overnight."
The deletions have caused particular anxiety among women and the elderly. Laxmi Singh Sarkar said, “We don’t know where to go or who to approach. We have all the necessary documents, yet our names have been removed. The uncertainty is keeping us awake at night.”
Tarani Sarkar added, “Most of us here belong to the Matua community. Seeing such a large number of names cancelled from a single booth feels targeted, and we are now living in deep anxiety over what this means for our families.”
Bongaon South, a stronghold of the Matua community, has long been central to debates over citizenship and electoral legitimacy. The latest deletions have renewed concerns about the Special Intensive Revision process and its effects on marginalised border communities.
Local leaders have criticised the administration, saying that while review protocols are cited, the outcome effectively silences a specific demographic’s political voice.
As residents seek legal and administrative remedies, tensions remain high in Chandpara, with many fearing these deletions could signal a wider trend. For now, 183 families at Booth 173 remain in electoral limbo, awaiting clarity and the restoration of their voting rights.
