Kolkata: In a significant pre-election development, the Election Commission of India has expanded the electoral roll in West Bengal by nearly seven lakh voters, sharpening the political stakes ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
According to official data, close to seven lakh applications were submitted through Form-6 during the revision period. Following scrutiny and verification, a substantial number of eligible applicants were inducted into the voter list. The final electoral roll published on February 28 had already included 1.88 lakh new voters, with an additional five lakh names added over the subsequent weeks.
District-wise trends indicate a sharp surge in enrolments across key regions. North 24 Parganas led the chart with over 71,000 new voters, followed by Kolkata with nearly 44,000 additions. Other districts witnessing notable increases include Howrah, Hooghly, and East Midnapore—areas often seen as electorally decisive.
Around seven lakh new voters have been added to West Bengal electoral rolls ahead of the assembly elections, with the Election Commission yet to disclose the age or gender break-up of this additional electorate, officials said on Saturday.https://t.co/l1kxA61utv
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However, the updated data has also flagged a concerning trend: a marginal decline in the number of registered female voters, even as overall enrolment rises.
With the latest revision, the state’s total electorate now stands at over 6.82 crore. Of these, more than 3.49 crore are male voters, just over 3.33 crore are women, and 1,257 individuals are registered under the third gender category.
Election officials suggest the numbers could see a further uptick once pending cases before electoral tribunals are resolved, potentially altering the final voter base ahead of polling.
The fresh additions are expected to play a crucial role in shaping electoral outcomes, particularly in densely populated and politically volatile districts.
