900 names missing from 2002 voter list in Balagarh
The Statesman | 21 November 2025
In Potagachi village of Ektarpur Panchayat in Balagarh, Hooghly, the names of around 900 people are missing from the 2002 voter list published by the Election Commission. Voters fear that their names may be excluded during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
However, on the EC website, the 900 names missing from the 2002 voter list are found in the 2003 voter list. Since the Election Commission has placed greater emphasis on the 2002 list, villagers are panic-stricken.
The villagers said they have been residents of the area for many years. Everyone possesses Aadhaar cards, ration cards, land documents and voter ID cards. They also claimed to have voted both before and after 2002.
“We were born here and raised here. We paid taxes, we voted. Today we are suddenly being told that our names are not in the 2002 voter list. So are we not citizens of India?” they asked.
According to administrative sources, similar discrepancies have been detected in several places in the district and are being examined by the election department. Panicked voters are visiting the block office every day seeking clarification and reassurance.
The BDO and BLOs of the concerned areas have asked residents to fill up the SIR forms and have assured them that the names of genuine voters will not be omitted from the voter list. Intensive work is underway to revise the rolls. The administration has said that the names of valid voters will definitely be included. Names will be added to the voter list upon submission of the required documents and attendance at the hearing. There is nothing to fear even if a name is not in the 2002 voter list, the Election Commission has repeatedly assured.