Why is South 24 Parganas Leading in Voter Exclusions in Bengal?
Synopsis
The draft voters' list from the Election Commission reveals alarming exclusions, with South 24 Parganas leading in voter omissions, while Kalimpong records the least. This situation raises concerns regarding electoral participation and representation in West Bengal. Stay informed as we delve into the implications of this significant development.
Key Takeaways
South 24 Parganas leads in voter exclusions with over 800,000 omitted.
The Kalimpong district has the lowest exclusions at under 18,000 .
North 24 Parganas follows with 793,000 exclusions.
The final voters' list will be published on February 14, 2026 .
Claims and objections can be filed in the upcoming phase of the Special Intensive Revision.
Kolkata, Dec 16 (NationPress) The district of South 24 Parganas has emerged as the district with the highest number of excluded voters in the draft voters' list released by the Election Commission of India (ECI) earlier this week, surpassing all 24 districts in West Bengal.
More than 800,000 voters from the previously registered list as of October 2025 have been omitted from the draft list for South 24 Parganas.
In stark contrast, the Kalimpong hill district reported the lowest number of exclusions, with just under 18,000 voters affected.
The neighboring North 24 Parganas has also seen a significant exclusion, with approximately 793,000 voters removed from the draft list, making it the second highest in this regard.
Following closely is Howrah, adjacent to Kolkata, where the number of excluded voters stands at about 447,000.
In the fourth position is Kolkata (Uttar), with around 391,000 voters excluded, while Hooghly comes fifth with approximately 318,000 exclusions.
West Burdwan ranks sixth with about 306,000 voters omitted.
Additionally, over 200,000 voters have been excluded from districts such as Murshidabad, Nadia, Malda, Kolkata (Dakshin), West Midnapore, and East Burdwan.
More than 100,000 voters have been removed from areas including Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, North Dinajpur, East Midnapore, Purulia, and Bankura.
Less than 100,000 voters were excluded from districts like South Dinajpur, Alipurduar, and Jhargram.
The release of the draft voters' list marks the conclusion of the initial phase of the three-phase Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal, which commenced on November 4 and ended on December 16.
The second phase of SIR will follow, involving the filing of claims and objections alongside the issuance, hearing, verification, and resolution of enumeration forms by the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).
The final voters' list is expected to be published on February 14, 2026.
Following the release of the final voters' list, the ECI will announce the schedule for the Assembly elections set for next year in West Bengal.
Point of View
The significant exclusions in the draft voters' list, particularly in South 24 Parganas, highlight a critical issue in electoral integrity. Ensuring every eligible citizen has their voice heard is fundamental for a robust democracy. As we approach the final list publication, it is crucial that authorities address these discrepancies to uphold the democratic process.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the draft voters' list?
The draft voters' list is crucial as it determines who is eligible to vote in upcoming elections and ensures that electoral participation reflects the population accurately.
Why are voters excluded from the list?
Voters may be excluded due to various reasons including changes in residency, failure to register, or discrepancies in documentation.
When will the final voters' list be published?
The final voters' list is set to be published on February 14, 2026.
What happens after the draft list is published?
After the draft list publication, there will be a phase for filing claims and objections, followed by a verification process by Electoral Registration Officers.
How many voters were excluded from South 24 Parganas?
Over 800,000 voters have been excluded from the South 24 Parganas draft voters' list.
