TMC Accuses BJP of Hindering Form-7 Submissions; BJP Fires Back

Kolkata, January 14, 2026: Ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, the state’s voter list is being meticulously revised under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The publication of the draft roll, which saw over 5.8 million names removed, has sparked a fierce political tussle between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

TMC has accused BJP of manipulating the voter list to target specific communities. The party shared a video on its official X account implying that BJP sought to preemptively remove voter names, calling the party “anti-Bengali” and suggesting it treats voters as a problem rather than citizens. The video caption read, “When pre-filled forms are treated like cargo and removed from the rolls, the anti-Bengali mindset of the party becomes evident.”

BJP Hits Back

BJP leaders, including national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari and Amit Malviya, countered the allegations, questioning why TMC was opposing the submission of Form-7, the legal mechanism for voters to correct or add their names. Bhandari claimed that in Kumargram constituency, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) refused to accept Form-7 submissions without explanation. In Bhattpara, he alleged that the ERO left the office just ten minutes before a scheduled delegation visit, preventing forms from being submitted. Bhandari suggested TMC fears that verified Form-7 submissions could end attempts at electoral manipulation.

Amit Malviya also alleged that in Behala Purba, ERO Reena Ghosh refused to accept Form-7 forms submitted by the party’s ward president and BLAs, leaving party workers with no option but to stage a sit-in at the ERO office.

SIR Removes 5.8 Million Names

Following the first phase of SIR, the draft voter list published on December 16 showed a reduction from 76.6 million to 70.8 million voters, a cut of over 5.8 million names. According to the Election Commission, names were removed due to deaths, permanent migration, duplication, or failure to submit relevant forms.

The second phase of SIR is currently underway, covering hearings for 16.7 million voters, including 13.6 million flagged for inconsistencies and 3.1 million whose records could not be properly mapped.

The controversy highlights the intensifying political battle over voter rolls in West Bengal, with both parties accusing each other of attempts to influence the electoral process ahead of the elections.