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West Bengal SIR Deleted 80 Lakh Voters; 38.6% Were Muslims vs 27% Population Share, Influencing 2026 Assembly Polls

PolitySUPPORT
Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
22 May 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:November 4, 202580 lakh deletions38.6% Muslim deletions7.34 crore electors (2021)6.81 crore electors (2026)63 lakh BJP vote increase
Bodies:Election Commission of India
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, which commenced in November 2025, led to the deletion of around 80 lakh voters, shrinking the electorate from 7.34 crore (2021) to 6.81 crore (2026).

2.Analysis shows that 38.6% of deletions in key categories (Absent, Shifted, Logical Discrepancy) were Muslims, a share higher than their 27% population proportion from the 2011 Census.

3.The SIR alterations exceeded the BJP's winning margin in 82 seats (70 in Muslim-concentrated districts), suggesting the electoral outcome was decisively influenced by the demographic reconfiguration of the rolls.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

An analysis of the 2025-26 Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal reveals large-scale deletions disproportionately affecting Muslim electors, which, alongside anti-incumbency and polarisation, critically influenced the BJP's victory in the 2026 Assembly elections. This raises serious questions about the integrity of the electoral roll revision process and its impact on democratic outcomes.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

SIR Start DateNovember 4, 2025
Total SIR Voter Deletions~80 lakh
Muslim Share in Deletions38.6%
BJP Vote Increase (2021-2026)63 lakh
AITC Vote Decrease (2021-2026)29.5 lakh

1-Minute Revision

  • ›SIR Start Date: November 4, 2025
  • ›Total SIR Voter Deletions: ~80 lakh
  • ›Target this Data: 38.6% Muslim share in SIR deletions vs 27% population share (2011 Census).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Election Commission of India (ECI) and its role in conducting SIR.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: The appellate tribunal process under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Under which constitutional article is the Election Commission of India established?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal as per the article:

1. The SIR exercise commenced on November 4, 2025, in West Bengal along with 11 other states and Union Territories.

2. A unique criterion of 'logical discrepancy' was introduced by the Election Commission only in West Bengal to identify and remove voters.

3. The SIR process led to an increase in the total number of electors in West Bengal from 6.81 crore in 2021 to 7.34 crore in 2026.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the analysis in the article, what was the approximate share of Muslim electors among the total SIR deletions (excluding Deceased and Duplicate categories) in West Bengal?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary concern raised by the article regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal?

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