Kolkata, 03 January (H.S.) :
The number of voters flagged for “logical discrepancies” during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal has seen a significant decline, according to the Election Commission. Officials said on Friday that while 1.36 crore voters were initially placed under this category, the figure has now come down to 94.49 lakh, marking a reduction of 41.51 lakh cases. Commission sources indicated that the number may decrease further once the hearing process is completed.
The Election Commission explained that “logical discrepancies” refer to anomalies in voter details such as name mismatches, age inconsistencies or irregularities in family data. In several cases, voters’ names did not match records, while in others, the age gap between a voter and their father was found to be either less than 15 years or more than 50 years. In some instances, discrepancies were also detected between the ages of voters and their grandfathers.
Initially, the Commission had stated that such discrepancies were found in 1.67 crore cases, a figure later revised to 1.36 crore, and now further reduced to 94.49 lakh after verification.
Sharing a detailed break-up, the Commission said that 23 lakh cases involved instances where one individual was linked to six voters. Around 51 lakh cases related to name mismatches. The number of voters where the age difference with the father was less than 15 years stood at 4.74 lakh, while cases with an age gap of more than 50 years were recorded at 8.41 lakh. Discrepancies involving voters’ ages compared with their grandfathers were found in 3 lakh cases.
The issue has already triggered a political row, with the Trinamool Congress raising serious questions over the process. Party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had alleged that the Election Commission released both the draft electoral roll and the so-called “logical discrepancy” list on the same day without issuing any official press release. He claimed that the list was circulated only through messaging platforms and that his party possesses documentary proof of the same. According to the Trinamool, releasing such a large and sensitive list without transparency has raised doubts.
Pursuing the matter, a Trinamool delegation met the State Chief Electoral Officer and demanded that the complete list be made public. The issue was later taken to Delhi, where Abhishek Banerjee and other leaders met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, reiterating that concerns would persist until a clear and comprehensive list is officially disclosed.
Meanwhile, after completing the “no mapping” phase, the Election Commission is now preparing to begin hearings related to “progeny mapping”. This category includes cases where more than six voters share the same father’s name, suggesting that a single guardian has submitted multiple enumeration forms for six or more children. According to Commission sources, there are instances where as many as 100 voters are linked to the same father’s name. Approximately 24 lakh voters fall under this category. Notices for hearings have already been prepared, and their distribution is expected to begin shortly.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
