Row Over Electoral Roll Revision: Protest Held at Dharmatala in Kolkata

Dharmatala in Kolkata witnessed a large protest as people from different districts across West Bengal gathered for a dharna following a call by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Participants said they had come to raise concerns regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India. Some individuals at the protest claimed their names had been removed from voter lists, while others said their voter status had been placed “under adjudication” during the verification process. The Trinamool Congress has criticised the exercise, alleging that eligible voters have been affected. The Election Commission, however, states that the revision process is part of routine efforts to update and verify electoral rolls.Leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party have rejected the allegations and accused Mamata Banerjee of politicising the issue. Union ministers and BJP leaders have also commented on the matter, intensifying the political debate around electoral processes in the state. Dharmatala has historically been a major venue for political protests in Kolkata, and the latest gathering reflects the ongoing political debate over voter list revisions in West Bengal.