As West Bengal gears up for the final phase of its Assembly elections in 2026, lakhs of voters remain disenfranchised despite tribunals restoring only 1,607 voters. The tribunals also ordered the deletion of six voters in the second phase constituencies, mirroring the deletion of eight voters in the first phase constituencies.
Voter Restoration Process
The restoration process, overseen by election tribunals, has been criticized for its slow pace. Out of the millions left out of the electoral rolls, merely 1,607 voters have been reinstated. This has sparked concerns among political parties and civil society groups about the fairness of the electoral process.
Phase-wise Deletions
In the second phase constituencies, the tribunals directed the deletion of six voters, following eight deletions in the first phase. These deletions, though small in number, highlight the ongoing scrutiny of voter lists to remove duplicate or ineligible entries.
Impact on Voters
The exclusion of lakhs of voters could potentially affect the outcome of closely contested seats. Opposition parties have alleged that the deletions are politically motivated, while the Election Commission maintains that the process is standard procedure to ensure clean electoral rolls.
Final Phase Polling
The final phase of polling is set to take place in the coming days, with authorities working to address grievances. However, with only a fraction of voters restored, many are likely to be unable to cast their ballots.
Anirban Bhaumik reported this story. Published 28 April 2026, 18:15 IST.
