TMC claims ‘faulty software’ led to voter roll deletions in Bengal, targets ECI ‎

‎The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Friday accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of overseeing “massive deletions” from the voter list in West Bengal, alleging that the removals were the result of a “mysterious faulty software” deployed by the poll authority.

‎In a statement, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale said ECI officials had now acknowledged that software-related errors were responsible for the deletion of names of legitimate voters from the electoral rolls. He asserted that the issue had been repeatedly raised over the past several months by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

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‎“Finally, even ECI officials accept that massive deletions in the Bengal voter list happened due to a mysterious faulty software,” Gokhale said. “This has been pointed out by our leaders for months, and yet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has remained silent.”

Questioning the functioning of the alleged software, Gokhale sought clarity on its origin and continued use. “Who made this mysterious software for ECI that deletes legitimate voters? Why has ECI not stopped using this software despite knowing that it’s faulty,” he asked.

‎The TMC MP further alleged political interference in the functioning of the poll body, accusing the BJP of influencing the Election Commission. “After failing in their attempts to manipulate the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) on the ground, BJP-controlled ECI is using a software to delete voters while sitting in Delhi by bypassing election officials,” Gokhale said, describing the alleged actions as “dirty tricks of the highest level.”

‎The allegations came amid heightened scrutiny of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, a routine exercise undertaken by the Election Commission to update voter lists by removing duplicate, shifted or deceased voters and enrolling newly eligible electors. The process often draws close attention from political parties, particularly ahead of elections, amid concerns that errors could lead to voter disenfranchisement.

‎The Election Commission has not issued a detailed response to Gokhale’s claims so far. In earlier instances, the ECI has maintained that electoral roll revisions are conducted strictly in accordance with established procedures, with multiple layers of verification involving booth-level officers and representatives of political parties.

‎The TMC has called for greater transparency from the Election Commission and demanded that the use of the alleged software be halted until a full explanation is provided.