Bengal SIR Phase I: Chowringhee Tops Voter Deletions

December 17, 2025

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has released the draft electoral rolls for West Bengal following the conclusion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. In this first phase of revision, over 58 lakh voter names — out of about 7.66 crore registered electors have been marked for deletion, reducing the draft list to around 7.08 crore voters.

The SIR process, initiated in early November and carried out through December 11, aimed to update electoral rolls by removing names classified as dead, permanently shifted, absent, missing, or duplicate. Affected voters can file claims and objections between December 16, 2025, and January 15, 2026, after which hearings will be conducted ahead of the final roll’s publication on February 14, 2026.

Chowringhee Leads Constituencies with Highest Deletions

Among West Bengal’s 294 assembly constituencies, Chowringhee in Kolkata North has recorded the highest number of voter deletions, with 74,553 names removed accounting for over one-third of its electorate. Following Chowringhee, significant deletions were reported in:

• Kolkata Port (about 63,730 deletions)

• Ballygunge

• Tollygunge

• Dum Dum and North Dum Dum

These high numbers reflect a pattern of uncollected SIR forms due to voters being absent from registered addresses, permanently relocated, deceased, or duplicates across multiple constituencies.

Kotulpur Registers Minimal Exclusions

In contrast, Kotulpur — an assembly segment in Bankura district   has recorded the fewest name deletions under the draft list, indicating less churn and fewer flagged discrepancies compared with urban constituencies like those in Kolkata. Official ECI data shows that rural and non-metropolitan constituencies generally have lower voter deletion figures in the initial phase of SIR.

Breakdown of Deletions and Next Steps

The deletions flagged in the draft voter list include a mix of:

• Deceased voters

• Those who have relocated permanently

• Missing or untraceable electors

• Duplicate and false entries

• Other categories flagged for discrepancies

Voters whose names have been excluded can contest the deletion by submitting Form 6 and supporting documents to local Booth Level Officers (BLOs) or through the official ECI portal during the claims and objections period. Verification hearings will be held before the final roll is published in February 2026.

Political and Public Reactions

The sweeping changes especially in key urban constituencies have drawn attention ahead of the elections, with political parties and voter groups monitoring inaccuracies and procedural issues. ECI officials have emphasized that the revision exercise is routine, and transparency has been prioritized with online access to deleted lists and options for citizens to verify or restore their names.