On Thursday, media reports claimed that amid ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across the state, the UIDAI has notified the Election Commission saying Aadhaar numbers of 34 lakh deceased residents of Bengal have been deactivated.
However, official social media page of the Chief Electoral Officer West Bengal stated, “No such specific information regarding dead voters has been received from UIDAI till date by the office of CEO, WB.”
As per media reports, UIDAI also informed the ECI that about 13 lakh people in the State never possessed Aadhaar cards, but have since died. This information was reportedly shared during a meeting between the Chief Electoral Officer of the state Manoj Kumar Agarwal and UIDAI authorities.
Trinamool Congress reacts to news reports on social media
The ruling Trinamool Congress took to social media to raise questions about SIR which is being conducted a few months before the West Bengal Assembly Elections. All India Trinamool Congress wrote in a social media post, “According to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer’s office, UIDAI officials have informed CEO Manoj Agarwal that the Aadhaar numbers of about 32-34 lakh deceased residents of West Bengal have been deactivated and said that this inactivation can be used as a basis for excluding names from the voter list.
But UIDAI itself has told Parliament that it does not store any information on Aadhaar deactivations state-wise, year-wise or reason-wise. If that is true, then on what legal or evidentiary basis was this huge database created and handed over? This is a complete disregard for the Constitution!”
Trinamool Congress further wrote, “Take the case of Bihar – where the Election Commission declared thousands of people “dead” in the draft voter list, but many of them were later found to be alive. If such a scandal has taken place there, there is a possibility of similar planned exclusion of names in Bengal. We are concerned that this database, operated without any transparent process or impartial verification, could become a weapon to deprive a large number of voters.
If even a legitimate voter’s name is erased as a result of this opaque, unverified information – then it will be seen not only as a crime, but also as a political conspiracy. We will see to it that the end is reached – legal action, mass movements will be organised. Those who have committed this conspiracy will have to pay the price at the ballot box.”
CEO, West Bengal denies receiving information from UIDAI
Reacting to Trinamool’s social media post, the official page of the Chief Electoral Officer West Bengal wrote, “No such specific information regarding dead voters has been received from UIDAI till date by the office of CEO, WB. Information regarding dead voters received from any credible source cannot and shall not lead to any suo-motu deletion and EROs are duty-bound to follow due process before deleting the name of any voter.”
Replying to Trinamool’s post the CEO West Bengal further wrote, “As per Rule 9 of the “Registration of Electors Rules 1960” for the purpose of preparing the roll any ERO and any person employed by him shall have access to any register of birth and death and it shall be the duty of every such persons incharge of any such register to give to the said officers or person such information and such extracts from the said registration as he may require.”
The West Bengal Assembly Elections are due next year. Before that, SIR has been started across Bengal. BLOs are taking enumeration forms from door to door. According to information from the CEO’s office, more than 6.98 crore (91.19%) Enumeration Forms have been distributed in the State till 8 p.m. on Wednesday (November 12, 2025).