West Bengal's Electoral Roll Revision Sparks Disputes Over Voter Deletions and Hearings

West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has led to the deletion of around 5.8 million names, including 54 lakh alleged 'genuine voters,' according to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. She accused the Election Commission (EC) of using AI tools, purportedly devised by the BJP, to remove voters without adequate notice or opportunity to defend themselves, particularly affecting women and those with changed details. The EC and BJP deny these claims, emphasizing the need to clean the rolls and asserting procedural compliance. The process has sparked political tensions, legal challenges, and concerns over voter disenfranchisement, with ongoing hearings identifying over 11,000 ineligible voters. Both parties have accused each other of manipulating the revision, while the Supreme Court is hearing related petitions.