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ECI: ~500,000 new voters added in Bengal rolls via Form-6 ahead of polls
The West Bengal electoral rolls expanded by about 500,000 voters after the final list on February 28, with 188,207 added initially and roughly 500,000 more following verification of around 709,000 Form-6 applications. District-wise gains were led by North 24 Parganas and Kolkata, taking the total electorate to 68.2 million, amid political controversy over registration. Two-phase voting is scheduled for April 23 and 29, with possible further additions as pending cases are resolved.
Why It Matters
The surge in enrolments and the accompanying political criticisms highlight tensions around voter registration ahead of a high-stakes election, potentially influencing outcomes and public trust in the process.
Timeline
5 Events
Second phase voting scheduled
April 29, 2026
West Bengal will vote in the second phase on April 29, 2026. Pending cases may still affect the rolls before polling.
First phase voting scheduled
April 23, 2026
West Bengal will vote in the first phase on April 23, 2026. There is scope for further additions to the rolls as pending cases are resolved before polling.
Political reactions to fresh enrolments
April 20, 2026
Fresh enrolments triggered a political row in the poll-bound state. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee alleged BJP workers filed fraudulent Form-6 applications to enrol outsiders, calling it voter hijacking. TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee claimed bulk applications were submitted across constituencies to influence voter rolls. Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal said complaints were being examined and warned of legal action against false applications, clarifying that Form-6 can only be filed by the applicant.
Ongoing additions: 500,000 more voters added as nominations progressed
March 2026
Between February 28 and the close of nominations, around 709,000 Form-6 applications were submitted across two nomination phases. After verification, about 500,000 applicants were added to the rolls. District-wise additions included North 24 Parganas (over 71,000) and Kolkata (nearly 44,000), with Howrah, Hooghly and East Midnapore among the top districts. The total electorate rose to 68.2 million (over 34.9 million male, over 33.3 million female, 1,257 third gender). Pending cases could further raise the numbers.
Final electoral roll published; initial Form-6 additions
February 28, 2026
The final electoral roll was published on February 28, 2026. 188,207 new voters were included through Form-6 at this publication, reflecting the rolling enrolment process that allows registrations until nominations close.