West Bengal, India – For 50 years, 73-year-old Nabijan Mondal has proudly participated in every election in India. Now, as her state of West Bengal prepares for its assembly elections, she is shocked to discover that her name has vanished from the voter list.
This year’s elections will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with the results being announced on May 4. The Election Commission of India (ECI) recently updated voter rolls through a controversial initiative known as Special Intensive Revision (SIR). This move has affected millions.
Nabijan’s family members, including her husband and children, all appear on the list, but she does not. The mix-up stems from the fact that while her voter card lists her as “Nabijan,” her official government documents bear the name “Nabirul.”
This issue is not isolated. Over nine million voters in West Bengal have lost their voting rights due to the SIR, which represents about 12 percent of the state’s total voter base. Many of those affected have been declared absent or deceased, while others will not be able to vote until their cases are resolved in special tribunals. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough time for these tribunals to address such a high volume of cases before the election.
“I feel so helpless. My whole family will vote, but I will not be able to. I didn’t realize that the name difference would stop me from voting,” Nabijan said from her home in Gobindapur village.
West Bengal is home to nearly 25 million Muslims, making up about 27 percent of the state’s 106 million residents. This community has historically leaned towards the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has governed the state since 2011.
However, the SIR process seems to have disproportionately impacted Muslim voters. In districts where Muslims are a significant part of the population, such as Murshidabad and North 24 Parganas, large numbers have been removed from the voter rolls. Many families in these areas report facing issues with documentation, including discrepancies in names stemming from marriage or translations.
Sohidul Islam, a 49-year-old man from Sagarpara village, also discovered he is no longer registered to vote. “I am deeply distressed. I want to fight to get my name back on the list, no matter how much time and money it takes,” he said.
While the ECI claims that the SIR intends to clean up the electoral rolls by removing duplicates and deceased voters, opposition parties argue that it serves a political purpose—specifically targeting groups that may not support the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Local BJP leaders maintain that any errors in the voter lists should be corrected, but also raise concerns about “illegal infiltrators” from neighboring Bangladesh. This rhetoric has sparked fears that the SIR is part of a larger political strategy.
TMC leader Mamata Banerjee criticized the SIR process, claiming it was rushed to benefit the BJP. She has called for scrutiny over its implementation, asserting that it adversely affects the voting rights of Muslims in particular.
Experts point out that the SIR process has created hurdles, especially for women and those in lower socioeconomic classes who may lack necessary documentation. Swati Narayan, a law professor, highlighted how changes in names—common among women after marriage—have further complicated the situation, leading to anxiety and confusion.
Jesmina Khatun, a 31-year-old resident of Gobindapur, expressed her frustration over her name being removed despite her documentation being in order. “I don’t know what to do now. All my paperwork is correct,” she said.
Political analyst Yogendra Yadav pointed out that the SIR disproportionately burdens female voters, as they often must provide documents from their familial homes, adding to the chance of disenfranchisement.
Back in Murshidabad, Sohidul Islam lamented the situation, sharing a poignant connection to the land. “My family has lived here for generations. We will vote here, and this is where we’ll stay,” he said, expressing his determination to fight for his right to vote in the upcoming elections.
