6 days11 events
Story Threads
OngoingPolity & Governance

Controversy Over Electoral Roll Revisions and Voter Deletions (Jan 2026)

Concerns raised regarding large-scale voter deletions and alleged biases in the electoral roll revision process, particularly in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, during January 2026.

7 Jan 2026 - 18 Jan 202611 updatesUpdated 19 Jan 2026
Voter DeletionElectoral Roll RevisionElection CommissionUttar PradeshWest Bengal

Story Summary

In January 2026, controversy intensified over electoral roll revisions, particularly in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, with concerns about large-scale voter deletions and accusations of bias. Political parties raised alarms about disenfranchisement, prompting scrutiny of the Election Commission's (EC) revision processes and the extent of voter deletions. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the EC of colluding with the BJP to manipulate voter lists, alleging the use of a BJP-developed app. The Supreme Court addressed a plea challenging the immunity granted to Election Commissioners and ordered the EC to disclose deleted voter names in Kerala. Adding to the political furor, Congress leader Anand Sharma urged the EC to restore public trust, while the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) alleged flaws in the electoral roll revision process and sought an extension. These events raised serious questions about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process, potentially impacting future elections.

Key Facts

1Draft SIR 2.0 indicated approximately 13% of electors were deleted across nine states and three Union Territories.
2Uttar Pradesh saw the highest deletion rate at 18.7%, amounting to 2.89 crore names removed.
3Mamata Banerjee alleged the EC used a BJP-developed app for electoral roll revision in West Bengal.
4Approximately 54 lakh voters were allegedly deleted from the draft electoral roll in West Bengal, according to Mamata Banerjee.
5Urban centers like Lucknow (30%) and Ghaziabad (28%) in UP saw the highest deletion percentages.
6Deaths (46.23 lakh) and permanent migration (2.17 crore) were cited as major reasons for voter deletions in UP.

Timeline (11 events, 6 days)

18 Jan 2026(Latest)2 events

Anand Sharma urged the Election Commission to restore public trust, while the Congress party alleged flaws in electoral roll revisions and sought an extension.

Source Articles
Congress Alleges Flaws in Electoral Roll Revision, Seeks ExtensionRead article
Anand Sharma Urges Election Commission to Restore Public TrustRead article
16 Jan 20261 event

The Supreme Court ordered the EC to disclose deleted voter names in Kerala to ensure transparency.

Source Articles
Supreme Court Orders EC to Disclose Deleted Kerala Voter NamesRead article
14 Jan 20262 events

Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP and EC of conspiring to delete voters in West Bengal, alleging even prominent citizens were targeted.

Source Articles
Mamata Accuses BJP-EC Nexus of Voter Deletion Conspiracy in BengalRead article
Mamata Banerjee Criticizes EC Over Deletion of 54 Lakh VotersRead article
13 Jan 20261 event

The Supreme Court addressed a plea challenging the law granting immunity to Election Commissioners.

Source Articles
SC Addresses Plea Against Law Granting Immunity to Election CommissionersRead article
9 Jan 20261 event

Political parties in Uttar Pradesh began preparing to enroll voters after a large number of names were deleted from the draft rolls.

Source Articles
UP Parties Prepare to Enrol Voters After Draft Roll DeletionsRead article
7 Jan 20264 events

Draft Special Summary Revision (SIR) 2.0 indicated significant voter deletions across multiple states and UTs, while Mamata Banerjee alleged the EC was using a BJP-developed app for electoral roll revision, leading to the deletion of legitimate voters.

Source Articles
Draft SIR 2.0: Electoral Roll Deletions in Nine States, UTsRead article
Mamata Alleges EC Uses BJP App for Electoral Roll RevisionRead article
UP Electoral Rolls Revised: @@18.7%@@ Names Removed, Highest DeletionRead article
Story continues...

Exam Notes

Constitutional articles, acts & key terms

Practice Questions

36 MCQs, 11 Mains questions