ECI deleted 54 lakh 'genuine voters' in Bengal without giving chance to defend themselves: CM Mamata — UPSC Current Affairs | January 13, 2026
ECI deleted 54 lakh 'genuine voters' in Bengal without giving chance to defend themselves: CM Mamata
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee alleged that 54 lakh names were deleted from the electoral rolls during SIR by the EC using AI tools devised by the BJP, further claiming that these deletions disproportionately affected genuine voters and women who changed surnames after marriage. This raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the potential misuse of technology in elections, relevant for GS2 and GS3.
Overview On January 13, 2026 , West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that 54 lakh names were unilaterally deleted from the draft electoral rolls during the Summary Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state. She accused the Election Commission (EC) of misusing the powers of electoral registration officers (EROs) and employing AI tools devised by the BJP to carry out these deletions. Key Developments Allegations of Unilateral Deletions Number of Deleted Names: 54 lakh names were allegedly deleted from the draft rolls. Process: The deletions occurred during the Summary Intensive Revision (SIR) . Accusation: Ms. Banerjee alleged that the deletions were done unilaterally and by misusing the powers of electoral registration officers (EROs). Claims of Voter Disenfranchisement Ms. Banerjee claimed that a significant portion of the deleted voters were