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14 January 2026|The Hindu
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Polity & GovernanceNEWS

Mamata Accuses BJP-EC Nexus of Voter Deletion Conspiracy in Bengal

Mamata alleges BJP-EC collusion to delete voters, impacting democracy in West Bengal.

Background Context

The Election Commission of India (ECI) was established on January 25, 1950, a day before India became a Republic. Its initial mandate, as defined by Article 324 of the Constitution, was to conduct free and fair elections for the Parliament and State Legislatures. The Representation of the People Act, 1950 and 1951, further elaborated the powers and functions of the ECI, including the preparation and maintenance of electoral rolls. Historically, concerns about voter list accuracy and manipulation have been persistent. Booth capturing and impersonation were rampant in the early decades, leading to various electoral reforms. The introduction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter ID cards aimed to reduce these malpractices. The ECI's role has evolved from simply conducting elections to actively ensuring inclusivity and preventing disenfranchisement of eligible voters.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP and the Election Commission (EC) of conspiring to delete voters from electoral rolls during the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR). Banerjee claimed that even prominent citizens like Amartya Sen and poet Joy Goswami received summons during the SIR. She alleged that the "BJP-EC nexus" plans to remove one crore names from the final electoral rolls, following the deletion of approximately 58 lakh voters' names in the first phase of the SIR. Banerjee also stated that a BJP leader was arrested with thousands of forms related to the SIR, accusing the BJP of coercively submitting these forms to engineer mass deletion of genuine voters.

Key Facts

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Mamata alleges: BJP-EC nexus to delete voters

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Voters deleted in first phase: 58 lakh

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Targeted deletion: 1 crore names

Latest Developments

In recent years, the ECI has focused on leveraging technology to enhance voter registration and verification. The introduction of the Electoral Registration Officer Net (ERONET) system has streamlined the process of adding, deleting, and modifying voter details. Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) was introduced to enhance transparency and voter confidence. There has been increasing scrutiny of the ECI's independence and impartiality, particularly concerning the timing and handling of elections. The debate around electoral bonds and their impact on political funding has also indirectly affected the perception of the ECI's neutrality. The future likely holds further technological integration, including the potential use of blockchain technology for secure voting and enhanced data analytics for identifying and addressing voter registration anomalies.

2 Key Concepts to Understand

This article covers important concepts like Electoral Rolls, Article 324. Understanding these will help you answer exam questions better.

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