Shashi Tharoor Raises Concerns Over Voter Deletions Affecting Poll Outcomes in Bengal and Kerala
SIR likely influenced Bengal and Kerala poll outcomes, says Congress MP Shashi Tharoor
The Indian Express
Image: The Indian Express
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed concerns that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process led to the deletion of 91 lakh names from voter lists in West Bengal, potentially influencing the BJP's victory margin of 30 lakh votes. In contrast, he noted that similar deletions may have benefited the Congress party in Kerala, where they secured a record 63 seats.
- 01Tharoor highlights that 91 lakh names were removed from West Bengal's voter list due to SIR.
- 02Around 34 lakh individuals appealed against their removal, but only a few hundred appeals were addressed before voting.
- 03The BJP's victory margin in West Bengal was approximately 30 lakh votes, close to the number of unresolved voter appeals.
- 04In Kerala, the SIR process may have helped the Congress party by eliminating duplicate voter registrations.
- 05The Congress party achieved its highest-ever seat count in Kerala with 63 seats, while the BJP secured only 3 seats.
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Congress MP Shashi Tharoor raised significant concerns regarding the electoral process in West Bengal, attributing the BJP's historic victory in the 2026 Assembly elections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) that resulted in the removal of 91 lakh names from the voter list. He pointed out that about 34 lakh individuals had appealed against their removal, yet only a small fraction of these appeals were processed before the elections, leaving many voters without a chance to participate. Tharoor questioned the fairness of the election, noting that the BJP's victory margin of approximately 30 lakh votes closely matched the pending appeals. Conversely, he suggested that the SIR process may have inadvertently benefited the Congress party in Kerala by eliminating multiple registrations, leading to a record 63 seats for Congress, while the BJP managed to secure only 3 seats. Tharoor emphasized the need for a fair and democratic electoral process, particularly in light of the unresolved voter appeals in West Bengal.
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The unresolved voter appeals in West Bengal could undermine public trust in the electoral process, while the successful voter deletions in Kerala may indicate a cleaner voter registry.
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