In a dramatic protest, Trinamool Congress presented voters wrongly listed as deceased in the draft electoral roll, alleging gross discrepancies in the EC's Special Intensive Revision.

TMC Flags "Ghost Voters" in Draft Roll, Demands EC Action

COOCH BEHAR — This is the new India of Mr. Modi and his most loved election commission, which can kill anyone when they want. I am not telling this, but it is true. For more information, read this story. You will understand what is going on with the valid voter and the BJP voter.

The Trinamool Congress staged a striking demonstration on Wednesday, presenting voters who are alive but listed as dead in the newly published draft electoral roll, to allege large-scale inconsistencies in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision process in the district.

At a press conference, Cooch Behar TMC district president Abhijit De Bhowmik presented Ashwini Adhikari and his wife Shivani—both very much alive—as proof of what the party called serious errors in the Cooch Behar South Assembly constituency’s draft roll. The couple, residents of Falimari gram panchayat, found themselves classified as deceased in the draft list.

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"Dead" Voters Stand Alive Before Media

“Those who are alive are being shown as dead, while those who have gone outside the district for work are being marked 'untraceable’,” De Bhowmik stated, launching a sharp critique of the EC and the Central government. He cited other examples, including Alimon Bewa of Natabari and Rahul Hossain of Mathabhanga, who are also wrongly listed as dead.

Ashwini Adhikari, a 55-year-old daily wage worker, expressed shock and confusion. “We do not know why this happened or whether this error will be corrected. We are banking on the district-level Trinamool leaders who are looking into the matter,” he said. His wife Shivani added she never expected to be declared dead in her lifetime.

Party Alleges Systematic Discrepancy, Not Error

The TMC leader emphasized that the issue extends beyond mere clerical mistakes. “There are many voters in Cooch Behar who have been casting their votes regularly, and yet their names do not figure in the draft list. This is not a mistake but a gross inconsistency,” De Bhowmik asserted.

Narayan Barman, president of TMC’s Falimari regional committee, called the errors "serious and unacceptable," noting that the Adhikaris are long-term residents and Rajbanshis who voted as recently as 2025. “The Election Commission must take responsibility,” he demanded.

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The public display of “living dead” voters underscores rising political tensions over electoral integrity in Bengal, with the TMC demanding immediate correction and accountability from the Election Commission ahead of upcoming polls.

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Press conference addressed by Cooch Behar TMC district president Abhijit De Bhowmik; statements from affected voters Ashwini and Shivani Adhikari.