Row over deletion of voters intensifies in Siliguri as TMC, BJP candidates trade charges
The Statesman | 11 April 2026
A political storm has erupted in Siliguri ahead of the Assembly elections over allegations of large-scale deletion of names from the electoral rolls, with Trinamul Congress (TMC) candidate and Mayor Gautam Deb and BJP nominee Sankar Ghosh locking horns.
Addressing a Press conference on Thursday, Deb alleged that a significant number of valid voters had been “deliberately removed” from the rolls with the “connivance of the BJP and the Election Commission of India”.
“Despite directions from the Supreme Court, several valid voters’ names have been deleted. People have faced immense harassment over the past four months ~ be it removal from voter lists or repeated hearings. The public is waiting to give a fitting reply through the EVM on 23 and 29 April,” Deb said.
Citing figures, he claimed that the total number of voters in the Siliguri Assembly constituency has dropped from 2,39,898 to 1,96,961. “In the initial phase, 31,065 names were deleted. Of the 8,719 cases taken up during adjudication, 6,536 names were struck off. We have submitted documents for 5,236 valid voters before the tribunal,” he added.
While appearing visibly upset, Deb expressed confidence about the electoral outcome. “Despite these challenges, I am confident that the people of Siliguri will stand by us and we will win,” he said.
Deb also accused BJP workers of disrupting campaign activities and damaging party publicity materials.
Meanwhile, BJP candidate Sankar Ghosh, against whom a suo motu police case has been registered, secured anticipatory bail on Thursday. Responding to the allegations, Ghosh said, “I have taken anticipatory bail on legal advice. The police have failed to produce any credible evidence or video footage to substantiate the charges.”
He further alleged, “Police have failed to provide video footage showing our party workers damaging TMC banners. They could not even specify how many CCTV cameras are functional to record such incidents. Instead, cases have been filed against me for resisting alleged harassment of our women workers.”
Ghosh also warned that there would be “no compromise on law and order” in Siliguri after the declaration of the 2026 election results.
With allegations and counter-allegations intensifying, the voter list controversy has added a fresh flashpoint to the already heated electoral battle in Siliguri.