Abhishek Banerjee flags voter roll ‘irregularities’ in Bengal, questions ECI’s response
The Statesman | 31 March 2026
Abhishek Banerjee, national general secretary of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), on Monday raised serious concerns over alleged irregularities in voter registration in West Bengal, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to interfere with the state’s democratic process and questioning the response of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
In a post on his WhatsApp channel, Abhishek Banerjee said, “What we are witnessing is deeply concerning. There are growing indications of a coordinated attempt to interfere with the democratic rights of the people of Bengal—with the BJP at the centre of it and the ECI seemingly looking the other way.”
He stressed the gravity of the issue, adding, “People deserve to know what is happening to their votes. This isn’t a small issue—it goes to the very heart of free and fair elections.”
The Trinamool Congress leader claimed that his party had received “credible reports” from multiple districts regarding the submission of large numbers of Form 6 applications, used for the inclusion of new voters in electoral rolls. “These are not routine additions,” he said. “There are serious concerns that many of these entries may be linked to individuals who have no real connection to Bengal—people who don’t live here, don’t work here and have no stake in the state.”
Referring to a video circulating in this context, he said it “only adds to these concerns,” alleging it shows “thousands of such forms being processed and stacked,” raising questions about “the scale and intent behind this exercise.”
Abhishek Banerjee further warned against what he described as a pattern seen in other states. “We have seen similar concerns being raised elsewhere during elections. Bengal cannot be allowed to go down that path,” he said.
Framing the issue as one beyond party politics, he urged public scrutiny. “Take a moment to watch this. Ask questions. Because this is not just about politics—it’s about protecting the integrity of our vote. This is the kind of ‘Pariborton’ the BJP seeks to impose on Bengal,” he said.
He also called for accountability from the poll body, stating, “The Election Commission must answer.”
The allegations come amid heightened political tensions in West Bengal, where questions around voter rolls and electoral integrity have frequently surfaced ahead of elections. The Election Commission of India has previously maintained that electoral roll revisions follow established procedures, including verification mechanisms, to ensure accuracy and transparency.