The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal has triggered a massive controversy ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Initially, the Election Commission’s draft roll shocked the state with the deletion of over 58 lakh names. However, as the adjudication process continues, political analysts fear the final tally of deleted voters could swell to a staggering 90 lakh. If these projections hold true, the 2026 elections might witness the lowest voter count in recent decades relative to the population.

The Election Commission justifies the purge as a necessary “cleanup” of deceased (24 lakh), shifted (32 lakh), and duplicate (1.38 lakh) entries. Yet, the Supreme Court has intervened, terming the process “extremely painful and cruel” for common citizens. Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that voting rights cannot be “washed away forever” due to logistical or minor clerical errors. Currently, nearly 60 lakh voters remain “under adjudication,” waiting for a final nod to cast their ballots in the elections starting April 9.

The political fallout is intense. While the Trinamool Congress has dubbed it a “conspiracy to disenfranchise legitimate voters,” the BJP maintains that the SIR is essential to eliminate bogus entries. From a high of 7.66 crore voters in early 2025, the draft has already dropped the count to 7.08 crore. If the total deletions reach 90 lakh, it would significantly alter the electoral demographic of the state. With judicial officers working overtime to dispose of millions of claims, the final voter strength remains the biggest mystery of the 2026 Bengal polls.