Nandigram Voter Roll Purge: Muslim Voters Disproportionately Deleted?
Study alleges mass deletion of Muslim voters in Suvendu Adhikari's Nandigram.
Top Summary
- What happened: A study reveals that 95.5% of deleted voters in Nandigram are Muslim, far exceeding their 26% share of the electorate.
- Why it matters: The disproportionate deletion raises concerns about potential voter suppression and political manipulation in a sensitive constituency.
- What changes: Thousands of voters, mainly Muslims, may be unable to exercise their right to vote in upcoming elections.
- Who is affected: Primarily Muslim residents of Nandigram, including individuals like Jafar Hussain, who have been removed from the electoral rolls.
Concerns Over Voter Roll Revisions in Nandigram
A new study highlights a concerning trend in Nandigram, where the deletion of Muslim voters from electoral rolls significantly outweighs their proportion in the electorate.
The study, conducted by the Sabar Institute, analyzed supplementary voter lists published by the Election Commission (EC) following a special revision of electoral rolls (SIR).
Disproportionate Deletions
The EC has released ten post-SIR supplementary lists until Sunday, identifying deleted and approved voters. In Nandigram, a total of 2,826 names have been removed.
Of those deletions, a staggering 2,700, or 95.5%, are reportedly Muslims.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, Muslims constituted roughly 26% of the electorate in Nandigram.
Allegations of Political Agenda
"The staggering rate of deletion of Muslim voters raises serious concerns about the SIR process and its impact,"
said Sabir Ahamed of the Sabar Institute.
"This analysis suggests the SIR process was conducted with a political agenda — to purge Muslim names to secure electoral advantage for one party."
The Sabar Institute is a Calcutta-based research organization studying religion and gender patterns in Bengal's voter roll revision.
The SIR Process and ASDD Lists
The SIR exercise began on October 27, 2025, with the EC announcing a special revision in nine states and three Union territories.
Initial draft rolls in Bengal, published on December 16, excluded over 58 lakh registered voters marked as dead, duplicate, shifted or absent (ASDD).
Muslims accounted for approximately 33% of those on the ASDD list, which is closer to their share of the overall electorate.
Names Under Adjudication
When the preliminary post-SIR list was published on February 28, around 60 lakh more names were placed "under adjudication."
The share of Muslims among those marked "under adjudication" is currently unavailable due to technical constraints hindering analysis.
Researchers are using machine learning to analyze names, but the "under adjudication" watermark on each name is causing issues with proper analysis.
Nandigram's High-Profile Contest
Nandigram was the site of the high-profile 2021 Assembly election contest between Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari.
Suvendu Adhikari, now a BJP leader, won by a narrow margin of under 2,000 votes, leading a campaign marked by religious polarization.
Mamata Banerjee alleged irregularities, and a legal challenge remains pending before the Calcutta High Court.
Individual Stories of Deletion
Jafar Hussain, 39, from Nandigram, is among those whose names have been removed. He was informed on Saturday by the BLO.
Hussain has filed an online appeal seeking restoration of his voting rights. The deadline for appealing is crucial, though unspecified in the provided text.
"No one can say if my case will be decided in time for me to vote. There are many in my neighborhood with the same plight,"
said Hussain.
Past Findings on Voter Lists
A previous Sabar Institute study found Muslim-identifiable names overrepresented in "logical discrepancy" lists in four Calcutta Assembly constituencies relative to their population share:
- Ballygunge
- Bhabanipur
- Kolkata Port
- Metiabruz
What to Watch Next
The Election Commission's response to these allegations will be crucial. Further investigation into the "under adjudication" list, particularly the religious demographics, is expected to shed more light on the issue.