A recent data analysis of the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal has revealed that ‘Das’ and ‘Singh’ are the most frequently deleted surnames in Kolkata and its surrounding areas.
Conducted by the Kolkata-based Sabar Institute, the study found that ‘Das’ accounted for 16.73% of the total deletions, while ‘Singh’ made up 12.11%.
The findings suggest that the electoral exercise, which aimed to clean rolls by removing deceased or shifted voters, has disproportionately affected non-Bengali populations and single male migrants from North Indian states.
Across West Bengal, over 58 lakh names were struck off the draft rolls published on 16 December 2025, sparking significant debate over potential demographic disenfranchisement.
Kolkata Electoral Purge
The analysis focused on 17 Assembly constituencies in Kolkata, Behala, Salt Lake, and Newtown to identify trends in the mass removal of voters. Beyond the top two names, other surnames frequently excluded include ‘Shaw’ at 7.82%, ‘Roy’ at 6.24%, and ‘Khatoon’ at 5.03%.
The data indicates a stark trend where male names were excluded at a much higher rate than female names. This specific pattern suggests that the SIR process heavily impacted migrant workers who often travel alone for work and may not have been present during booth level officer visits.
This “deep cleaning” of the rolls is part of a larger effort to ensure accuracy ahead of the 2026 state elections.
Constituency Specific Findings
In the Bhabanipur constituency, represented by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, ‘Das’ and ‘Singh’ comprised a combined 31.81% of all deletions. Similarly, in the Kolkata Port seat, represented by Mayor Firhad Hakim, ‘Singh’ was the most deleted surname at 13.27%.
Ashin Chakraborty of the Sabar Institute noted that the high percentage of non-Bengali names indicates a shift in the electoral landscape for these regions.
While West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal maintained that the deletions followed strict protocols for absent, shifted, or deceased voters, the Chief Minister has described the draft rolls as containing “gross errors,” urging affected citizens to file for re-enrolment immediately.
Electoral Rolls
The Election Commission of India recently released the draft electoral rolls for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Assam under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. This initiative aims to enhance the purity and transparency of the rolls through rigorous house-to-house verification by Booth Level Officers.
In West Bengal, the process resulted in the deletion of approximately 58.2 lakh names, primarily categorised as absent, shifted, or deceased. The commission has now opened a window for citizens to file claims and objections to ensure every eligible voter is included.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The right to vote is the heartbeat of our democracy, and any large-scale deletion of voters must be handled with extreme caution and empathy.
While maintaining accurate electoral rolls is necessary for fair elections, the disproportionate exclusion of migrant communities and specific linguistic groups raises troubling questions about systemic accessibility.
Our commitment to harmony and coexistence is challenged when administrative procedures inadvertently silence the voices of those who contribute to our economy but live on the margins.
