9M Voters Removed in India’s Bengal Amid Voter Scrubbing Row Involving Modi’s BJP
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Updated: April 24, 2026
Modi’s BJP Battles Backlash Over Voter Scrubbing in India’s Bengal
In a move that has sparked outrage across India, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been accused of undermining democracy in the crucial state of West Bengal. At the heart of the controversy lies the sudden removal of around nine million voters from the electoral rolls, a decision critics claim is a brazen attempt to skew the voter base in favor of the BJP ahead of crucial state assembly elections.
What Happened
The voter scrubbing row erupted on November 30, 2022, when the West Bengal government, in compliance with a High Court order, removed around 9.3 million individuals from the state’s electoral rolls. Among those affected were hundreds of thousands of Muslim residents, who have long been the backbone of the opposition Trinamool Congress’s support base.
Background: The Rise of BJP in Bengal
West Bengal has traditionally been a stronghold of the Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, who has ruled the state since 2011. However, in recent years, the BJP has been making inroads, winning key by-elections and riding a wave of nationalist sentiment that propelled Prime Minister Modi to power in 2014.
The BJP’s success in Bengal has been largely attributed to its outreach to the marginalized Hindu communities and its vocal opposition to the Trinamool Congress’s alleged appeasement of Muslims. However, critics argue that the party’s strategies have often veered into sectarian politics, fanning communal tensions and targeting marginalized communities.
Key Concerns
At the heart of the voter scrubbing controversy lies the BJP’s alleged attempt to rig the electoral process in its favor. Critics argue that the removal of over 9 million voters, mostly Muslims, could significantly impact the outcome of the state assembly elections, scheduled for 2024. The BJP claims the move was necessary to prevent electoral malpractices, but many see it as an attempt to manipulate the vote in favor of the ruling party.
Human rights groups have condemned the move, warning that it could lead to disenfranchisement of millions and undermine India’s democratic values. The opposition Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP of targeted disenfranchisement and vowed to fight the move in the courts.
What’s Next
The controversy has sparked widespread protests across West Bengal, with opposition parties and civil society groups demanding a reversal of the voter scrubbing decision. The Indian Election Commission (EC) has announced an investigation into the affair, promising to take stern action against those responsible for any irregularities.
The fallout from the voter scrubbing row is expected to reverberate across India, exposing deep-seated fault lines in the country’s democracy and testing the BJP’s credentials as a party committed to upholding democratic values. As the country hurtles towards crucial state and national elections, the implications of the BJP’s actions in West Bengal will be closely watched, with far-reaching consequences for India’s electoral landscape and its people.
Modi’s BJP Battles Backlash Over Voter Scrubbing in India’s Bengal In a move that has sparked outrage across India, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra…
This is a developing story. More updates will follow as new information becomes available.
This is a developing story. More updates will follow as new information becomes available.
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