The Election Commission of India (ECI) has approved the use of tea garden and cinchona plantation employment records as valid identity and residence documents for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in seven districts of North Bengal. This decision, conveyed in a letter dated January 11, 2026, aims to address documentation hurdles faced by plantation workers, including Adivasi and Gorkha communities, who often lack standard proof of residency. BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari and Amit Malviya, hailed the move as a victory for marginalized voices and democratic rights.