BJP Urges Election Commission To Look Into 'Alarming' Increase In Number Of Voters In West Bengal's Border Districts

Raising concerns over an alleged increase in the number of voters in the some border districts of West Bengal in past four years, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation on Thursday (14 January) approached the Election Commission and urged it to look into the matter.

BJP West Bengal unit's executive member Shishir Bajoria and party leaders Swapan Dasgupta and Shamik Bhattacharya raised the issue with the poll panel.

“The jump in West Bengal’s the electoral rolls of the number of voters between 2016 and 2020 is 63 lakh. The jump is specifically alarming in the border districts of Malda, Murshidabad, both of which have shown a 14 per cent increase. Uttar Dinajpur has recorded a 13 per cent increase while South 24 Parganas and South Dinajpur have seen an 11 per cent increase,” Bajoria was quoted as saying.

Bajoria alleged that there were serious discrepancies in the draft electoral rolls that have shown an increase of 9.6 per cent voters in three years.

He said that according to party's preliminary analysis, around 23 constituencies have registered an increase of at least 20 per cent in number of voters.

"We have approached the Election Commission. When there is an excess of 10 per cent, there is definitely a concern. We have urged the Election Commission for an audit,” he added.

Meanwhile, TMC state spokesperson Debangshu Bhattacharya said that Centre was responsible for checking infiltration on the borders. He added that BJP was raising the issue to create fear in the Hindus and antagonise the Muslims.