Voter List Controversy in West Bengal:In a shocking development ahead of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026, six residents of Hooghly district have appealed to President Droupadi Murmu seeking permission for euthanasia after their names were removed from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
The incident has triggered political and administrative concerns which raise serious questions about the state’s voter verification methods and the electoral process which should be transparent.
Voter List Controversy in West Bengal: What Happened?
The six affected individuals belong to Ward No. 6 of Arambag Municipality in Hooghly district. The names of these individuals appeared in a list that included approximately 200 voters who were removed from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise which is currently running before the elections.
The group includes a retired headmistress who dedicated her career to a government-aided school that she worked at for multiple decades. The woman submitted multiple identity documents which contained her pension papers and passport information but her name remained absent from the list.
The group sent their appeal through the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) in Arambag, who would send the request to the President.
Why Did They Seek Euthanasia?
The voters assert that their removal from the electoral rolls has taken away their rights as citizens. According to their statements, the situation has caused deep psychological distress and humiliation.
Some of the affected individuals expressed fear that they could be treated as “illegal” residents in the future, even raising concerns about possible detention.
“My parents’ names appeared in the 2002 voter’s list; I simply do not understand why my name was excluded. I was a government employee and continue to receive my pension to this day.” Taibunnesa Begum, the former Headmistress of Goghat Bhagabati Girls’ School revealed.
One of the applicants reportedly stated that living with such “harassment and loss of identity” felt meaningless, prompting the extreme step of seeking euthanasia.
“Our family has been voting since Independence. My father has been voting since 1962. We possess all necessary documents. We have been casting our votes for years. Yet, our names are not there on the list. Under these circumstances, I wish to appeal to the President: If I am forcibly sent to a detention camp simply because my name is missing from the voter’s list, I would prefer euthanasia instead.” another voter, Nur Islam Sheikh, said
Electoral Roll Revision and Controversy
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a routine exercise conducted by the Election Commission to update voter lists by removing duplicates, deceased individuals, and ineligible entries. The process of deleting information from specific districts has created major security issues throughout the region.
Reports indicate that thousands of names have been removed across parts of West Bengal, making voter verification a politically sensitive issue in the run-up to the elections.
What Happens Next?
The Election Commission will review the complaints which will enable the correction process through the claims and objections system. Affected individuals can typically reapply for inclusion by submitting valid documents.
