In the remote village of Chupipota in Nadia district, discussions often start with inquiries about inclusion on voter rolls or appeals to review panels.
All 152 individuals flagged for review in Booth No. 11 of the village were deemed ineligible following the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision. In Booth No. 12, just two out of 120—Shaiful Islam and Abul Kalam Sheikh—retained their spots on the list.
This pattern repeats in Nadia, Hooghly, and North 24 Parganas districts, home to significant Matua and Muslim populations. More than 70% of names reviewed for inconsistencies were removed from voter registries. Nadia and North 24 Parganas also saw substantial overall removals after the revision.
Nadia has 17 assembly seats. In the 2021 elections, the BJP secured nine, while the Trinamool Congress took eight. The TMC later gained two more—Ranaghat Dakshin and Kaliganj—through by-elections. Victory margins ranged from about 7,000 votes in Tehatta (TMC win) to over 50,000 in Palashipara (TMC).
North 24 Parganas features 33 seats, with the TMC winning 29 in 2021 and the BJP taking four: Gaighata, Bhatpara, Bangaon Uttar, and Bangaon Dakshin. Margins varied from over 2,000 in Bangaon Dakshin to more than 80,000 in Haroa (TMC).
In Hooghly’s 18 seats, the TMC claimed 14 in 2021, leaving four for the BJP. Three of the BJP’s wins had narrow margins, including about 4,000 in Goghat, while Chanditala saw a TMC victory by over 41,000.
Resentment over these exclusions and the lack of remedies from review bodies is evident and aimed at all major parties.
Shakila Bibi, 40, was removed due to a spelling variation in her father’s name—from Dolehar Sheikh in 2002 to Sheikh Dollar later. She states she would avoid voting for either the BJP or TMC if able. ‘I participated in elections from 2006 to 2024; why am I suddenly not a citizen? The chief minister claims to support us, but she was absent during the deletions. We’ve become mere voting tools.’
A local analyst notes TMC concerns. ‘Bengal has 80,000 polling stations. Typical booth margins between TMC and BJP are 10,000-12,000 votes. These removals could shift outcomes.’
For Muslim residents, a frequent issue is having a parent listed with six or more children already on rolls. Matuas often face parent name mismatches or prior revision discrepancies.
Piyaru Sheikh, 36, was excluded because six others claim Hussain Sheikh as their father, though he says he has only three siblings. ‘We provided our family tree, but it was ignored. Yet my youngest brother Sanjay was added despite errors.’
Nur Islam, 52, was removed as his 2002 entry read ‘Nur Mohammad Sheikh.’ ‘I submitted an affidavit. They could have requested more evidence instead of stripping our rights.’
Rabbil Sheikh, spouse of Chupipota village head Sabnur Khatun, reports that 80% of local families have at least two members deleted.
Kulchan Bibi, 75, explains her late husband Jamiruddin Sheikh had two marriages, fathering five children with her and four with his second wife. She and her daughters-in-law remain listed, but her two sons and two grandsons do not.
Grandson Salim Sheikh, 23, anticipated voting. ‘I received my voter ID in 2025. What if I never get another?’
Grandson Abdul Hossain, 22, regrets applying. ‘The process was time-consuming; I wouldn’t have bothered if I’d known.’
Congress candidate Abdur Rahim Shaikh from Krishnanagar Dakshin alleges: ‘The BJP manipulated deletions to target non-supporters. People suspect TMC backed it to maintain a two-party system and sideline others.’
In his Nadia area, with 132 minority-heavy villages, he claims 10-15% of votes deleted in many. TMC won the seat by about 9,300 votes in 2021.
Shaikh also thinks the BJP will not
