Kolkata, April 8: The special intensive revision (SIR) process in West Bengal has concluded with the release of the final supplementary list. For the first time since 2011, the state has recorded a decline in the number of voters. This year marks a significant shift, as it was in 2011 that the 34-year rule of the Left Front ended, leading to the rise of the Trinamool Congress government under Mamata Banerjee.
According to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, approximately 56.2 million voters participated in the assembly elections of 2011. By the time of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, this number had increased to around 62.7 million. During this period, major opposition parties in West Bengal raised concerns that while new and first-time voters were added to the electoral rolls, names of “dead,” “moved,” “missing,” and “duplicate” voters were not removed.
In 2016, when assembly elections were held again, the number of voters rose to about 65.8 million, as the Trinamool Congress secured an even larger majority in the assembly. The trend continued in 2019, with the voter count reaching 69.8 million during the Lok Sabha elections, and it further increased to 73.3 million in 2021, allowing the Trinamool Congress to return to power for a third consecutive term.
By the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the number of voters in West Bengal had climbed to 76 million. Data from the CEO’s office indicates a consistent increase in voter numbers from 2011 to 2024, with no recorded declines during this period.
However, following the SIR process, which began last November and concluded this month, the total number of voters in West Bengal has dropped to 67.5 million. Election analysts believe that the consistent increase in voter numbers from 2011 to 2024 reflects the addition of new and first-time voters, while the removal of “dead,” “moved,” “missing,” and “duplicate” voters from the rolls has not occurred simultaneously.
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My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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