The draft voters' list for the politically sensitive Nandigram assembly constituency in West Bengal has been published, revealing a significant reduction of 10,599 names compared to the previous 2025 list. This constituency, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee suffered a high-profile defeat to Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari in the 2021 state polls, is once again under the electoral scanner.
Breakdown of the Missing Voters
The draft Special Intensive Revision (SIR) list for Nandigram now contains names against the earlier count of 278,212. The reduction has been attributed to several specific categories. According to the draft data, 4,529 voters have been marked as deceased, while 4,876 are listed as having shifted from the constituency. A further 1,111 individuals are categorized as 'absent' voters, with the remaining falling into other miscellaneous categories.
Adding another layer of complexity, the constituency also has 3,317 'unmapped' electors. These individuals must now submit the necessary documentation to ensure their names are included in the final electoral roll. The process of hearings has been initiated to verify these and other cases.
Political Scrutiny and Party Reactions
Nandigram, located in East Midnapore district, captured national attention during the last assembly elections when Mamata Banerjee lost to Suvendu Adhikari by a narrow margin of 1,956 votes. Adhikari has consistently alleged the presence of a substantial number of "bogus voters" on the state's electoral rolls, making the revision process in this constituency particularly charged.
Despite the high stakes, neither the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) nor the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has officially raised objections to the draft list at this stage. Representatives from both sides have stated they are closely monitoring the ongoing revision process.
Meghnad Pal, the BJP district general secretary, acknowledged the deletion of around 10,599 names, stating, "We have no complaints about the list." He added that the District Magistrate's office has called 1,733 individuals from the Nandigram-I block alone for hearings. "We are monitoring the process to ensure that no genuine voter is left out and no suspicious name remains on the list," Pal emphasized.
On the other side, TMC leader Sk Sufian noted, "We have not yet received any complaints regarding the draft voters' list. However, many voters in every booth have not found their names on the draft list. They will be called to a hearing. We want to ensure that no valid voter's name is excluded."
Administrative Process and Booth-Level Details
Following the publication of the draft list, an all-party meeting was convened at the office of the East Midnapore District Magistrate. The DM assured all political parties that measures are being implemented to prevent the exclusion of any legitimate voter. All parties were urged to send their representatives to the scheduled hearings to oversee the process.
A micro-level view from a specific polling booth illustrates the ground reality. Suvendu Adhikari himself is a voter at Booth 79 in Nandanayekbar. The local Booth Level Officer, Bijli Giri Roy, reported that 11 names have been deleted from this booth so far. The breakdown includes six deceased voters, four who have shifted, and one 'absent' voter. The draft list for this booth currently holds 700 names, and seven individuals from this booth have been summoned for a hearing.
The administrative exercise aims to clean the electoral roll while safeguarding the franchise of every genuine voter. With the history of a razor-thin victory margin and ongoing political allegations, the final voters' list for Nandigram will be a critical document watched by all stakeholders ahead of future electoral battles.
