‘63 lakh voters removed?’ Rajeev Kumar questions Form-7 process in EC meeting

The controversy over West Bengal’s voter list intensified on Monday after the Trinamool Congress alleged that nearly 63 lakh voters had been removed from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The claim was raised during a meeting between political parties and the Election Commission’s full bench in Rajarhat.

Former Kolkata Police Commissioner and Rajya Sabha candidate Rajeev Kumar, representing the Trinamool Congress at the meeting, questioned the use of Form-7, which is used for deletion of names from the voter list. He argued that removing a voter’s name based solely on a complaint without giving the individual an opportunity to present their case raises serious concerns about democratic rights.

According to Trinamool representatives, Kumar presented legal and technical arguments suggesting that the current process could lead to one-sided decisions affecting eligible voters. The issue reportedly triggered a tense exchange during the meeting, with party leaders pressing the Commission for clarification.

After the meeting, state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya alleged discrepancies in the revision process. She said while around 63 lakh names were removed from the voter list, more than six lakh new applications were received but only about one lakh names were added, raising questions about the overall process.

The dispute over the voter list has now become a central political issue in the state. While the discussion unfolded at the Rajarhat meeting, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s protest against the revision process continued at Dharmatala, further intensifying the political debate over voter identity and electoral rights.