KOLKATA—With critical assembly by-elections just weeks away, West Bengal's political tension is mounting over a staggering electoral crisis: nearly 2.5 million voters risk being shut out of the democratic process due to names deleted from rolls. On Monday, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam made an urgent appeal to the Election Commission, demanding immediate action to ensure no eligible voter is denied their fundamental right.

Key facts

  • 25 lakh appeals filed over voter list deletions
  • Bypolls in Rejinagar and Nandigram on October 6
  • Counting scheduled for October 9
  • Voters were also excluded during April assembly elections

The Scale of Disenfranchisement

Special Intensive Revision tribunals are drowning in appeals—each representing a citizen fighting for their voice. Islam’s letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar highlights how thousands in the bypoll-bound constituencies of Rejinagar and Nandigram are still waiting for decisions. These voters already missed their chance to cast ballots during April’s assembly elections. Now, with the October 6 vote looming, time is slipping away.

A Constitutional Promise at Stake

Islam’s appeal goes beyond administrative urgency. He frames this as a defense of democracy itself. In his letter, he stressed that ensuring every eligible voter can participate isn’t just paperwork—it’s a reaffirmation of India’s constitutional commitment to universal adult suffrage.

“Ensuring this would be far more than an administrative measure; it would be a reaffirmation of the constitutional promise of universal adult suffrage, the sanctity of the franchise and the inclusive democratic character of our Republic,”

The emotional weight of his words underscores a deepening crisis: when nearly 25 lakh people are pleading for inclusion, the very integrity of the election is on the line.

Race Against the Calendar

The EC now faces a brutal timeline. Islam has asked the commission to calculate how long it will take to clear the backlog at current rates—and if needed, seek Supreme Court intervention to streamline the process. With October 6 approaching, every day counts. Some deleted voters are reapplying from scratch; others are stuck in appeal limbo. For them, the clock is ticking louder each day.