Kolkata: West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has written to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the state government is attempting to legitimize “infiltrating Rohingya Muslims and illegal Bangladeshi immigrants” through a surge in voter registrations and the issuance of domicile certificates in border districts.
Sharing the letter on X, Adhikari said, “A disturbing trend has emerged in West Bengal’s border districts. Over 70,000 Form-6 applications have been submitted on average in the last week, a sharp rise from the usual 20,000-25,000, especially in Coochbehar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Maldah, North Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Nadia, and North & South 24 Parganas districts.” Form-6 is used for new voter registration.
He claimed that the sudden rise in applications, along with the reported issuance of domicile certificates, indicates “unethical and illegal efforts” to influence voter lists by legitimizing illegal immigrants.
Adhikari urged the Election Commission not to accept any domicile certificates issued after 25 July during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls if such activity takes place in the state. He claimed that this step is crucial to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process. The Election Commission of India (ECI) began training booth-level officers (BLOs) in West Bengal on Saturday, fueling speculation that a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, similar to the one underway in neighboring poll-bound Bihar, could soon be conducted in the state.
He alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s office had instructed district and subdivisional magistrates in several border districts including North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Malda, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and Coochbehar to issue large numbers of domicile certificates.
“The integrity of our Democracy must be protected and can’t be allowed to get diluted for vested interests of Vote Bank Politics. The District Election Officers must remember that they are entrusted with the responsibility of conducting free and fair elections, and their allegiance is with the country and protecting the interests of the country,” he wrote.
On Saturday, Adhikari announced that the BJP in Bengal would hold protests from 17 August, demanding a “Rohingya-free Bengal” as part of its campaign against the Trinamool Congress’s “Bangla-Bangali” narrative ahead of next year’s Assembly elections.
“Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee gifted this homeland to Bengali Hindus, and we will protect it,” he said.