Border Villagers Flee as Electoral Roll Revision Begins in Cooch Behar

SNS, Siliguri, 4 November, 2025 : The special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, launched across North Bengal, has sparked controversy and political unrest, particularly in the border areas of Cooch Behar. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) began visiting households to distribute enumeration forms as part of the revision process, but the initiative has led to a series of unusual incidents, especially in villages near the unfenced Indo-Bangladesh border.

In Mekhliganj block of Cooch Behar district, several families, primarily from minority communities, have reportedly fled their homes in fear as BLOs began their door-to-door enumeration. These families are believed to have voter IDs issued in India, despite frequently moving between the two countries, often with the help of local residents. Many of these individuals are suspected of having obtained voter cards through false documentation or questionable means, including fake parentage. Fearing scrutiny during the revision, these families are believed to have temporarily vacated their homes, possibly to avoid any potential controversy or exposure during the electoral roll revision.

The border area, where only a river separates India and Bangladesh, has long been a site for political and social complexities, and the current revision process has heightened tensions surrounding the identification of voters in this region.

Protests Erupt Over Missing Names from Voter Rolls

In a separate but related development in Mathabhanga block of Cooch Behar, hundreds of residents took to the streets to protest against discrepancies in the electoral rolls. The protestors claimed that 426 names were missing from the 2002 voter list and demanded their inclusion in the current revision. These individuals, many of whom are long-time residents, have been voting for years, and they are calling for the administration to address the omissions and rectify the electoral roll.

The protests led to roadblocks in Mathabhanga on Tuesday, with residents alleging that they had been regular voters before and after 2002. After the demonstration, officials assured the protestors that their concerns would be addressed, and the situation was defused.

Intensified Political Activity Amid the Revision Process

Political parties across the region are actively involved in the SIR process, with leaders from both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP taking steps to guide and assist voters during the revision.

In Siliguri, TMC leaders held a press conference, outlining their campaign to assist voters during the revision exercise. Siliguri Mayor Goutam Deb informed the media that the party had trained Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to monitor the revision closely at the booth level and ensure that the process is carried out smoothly for TMC supporters.

On the other side, BJP MLA Dr. Sankar Ghosh set up a Help Desk at Deshbandhu Para to guide both voters and party workers, including those seeking to regularize their citizenship status under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). BJP leaders in the Dooars region, where the party has a strong base, have also held processions in support of the SIR, accusing TMC leaders of spreading misinformation and misleading voters about the process.

The revision process has also seen tensions in Cooch Behar, where TMC BLAs have been more active than their BJP counterparts in rural areas. Cooch Behar MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia even warned that no one would act as a BLA for the BJP, urging TMC workers to keep a close watch on BJP representatives at the booth level.

In Malda, Left parties have opened their own Help Desks in their traditional strongholds to assist voters and ensure that their names are correctly included in the revision.

Conclusion

The electoral roll revision in Cooch Behar and other areas of North Bengal has sparked significant political activity and unrest, with the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP both mobilizing resources to ensure their supporters' participation in the process. However, the revisions have also highlighted long-standing issues, including discrepancies in voter rolls, fears over identity verification, and the potential misuse of voter IDs in border areas. The situation in Cooch Behar, where some families are fleeing due to fears over scrutiny, has added a layer of complexity to the ongoing revision process, further intensifying the political and social dynamics in this border region.