BJP delegation meets ECI officials, demands vetting of Bengal government’s citizenship documents for SIR

A delegation of senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) met officials of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi on Monday, November 3, 2025, and raised various issues related to (Special Intensive Revision) in West Bengal.

The delegation, comprising West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya, former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb and BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya, expressed concerns over the documents released by the West Bengal government.

The memorandum submitted by the BJP leadership to the ECI pointed out the different “ground realities” between West Bengal and Bihar, stating that the state has witnessed large-scale issuance of backdated and fake documents, especially through government schemes such as the following. ‘Duare Sarkar’ (Government at the doorstep) was ostensibly aimed at the welfare of citizens but was effectively used to provide documents to illegal infiltrators from across the border.

In the statement, the BJP leadership claimed that despite birth certificates being recognized as acceptable documents for registration, there has been a sudden increase in delayed registrations across Bengal. “Birth certificates issued after 24 June 2025 should not be accepted for SIR purposes,” it recommended.

The party raised similar objections regarding permanent residence certificates, forest rights certificates, caste certificates and added that a comprehensive database containing all documents issued after 1.1.2002 (birth, residence, caste, forest rights etc.) should be compiled by the District Magistrates and shared with the Chief Electoral Officer for verification.

“Given the extensive manipulation of documentary machinery and compromised state machinery, it is vital that the upcoming Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal is conducted under enhanced scrutiny and independent verification. Admission of documents without such safeguards will defeat the objective of maintaining a clean and legitimate electoral roll,” the memorandum said.

The SIR is being conducted in 12 states, including poll-bound West Bengal, and door-to-door counting of voter lists will begin from Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

Speaking to the press after meeting with ECI officials, Malviya said that the Commission took into account the demands of the EC and they assured that they will ensure the sanctity of the documents.

“We have also requested the EC to look into the various incidents of violence and intimidation reported by the World Bank… This does not bode well for democracy… TMC is nervous because the voter rolls are being cleared, they will lose their mandate because it depends on illegal voters,” the BJP leader said.

State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya also posted on social media stating that the state government has prepared various government documents for illegal entrants. “Birth certificates, caste certificates were distributed to them. The Election Commission should ensure that the name of an illegal citizen does not appear in the West Bengal voter list,” Mr. Bhattacharya said on social media.