New Delhi: Over 2 crore voters were included in 12 states and Union Territories (UTs) during the second phase of Special Intensive Revision (SIR), taking the net deletion at the start of SIR on October 27, 2025 to around 5.2 crore or 10.2% of their combined electorate of around 51 crore. Total deletions in Phase 2 states/UTs reached 7.2 crore. However, 2 crore names were included as new voters (Form 6 by first-time voters) and existing voters enrolling at a new address (Form 8). According to data received from the Election Commission, more than 6.5 crore absent, transferred, dead, doubly enrolled and ‘other’ voters were identified and removed from the voter lists of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, UP, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, TN, Goa, Puducherry, MP, Rajasthan, Kerala and Lakshadweep. Another 63.2 lakh names were removed through Form 7 (objections to inclusion in the roll) and adjudication (special for Bengal where 27.2 lakh names were removed by judicial authorities).

After roll clean-up, 45.8 crore voters are left in the rolls in 12 states and union territories

About 66.9 lakh deletions were due to death, 1.3 crore due to enrollment at multiple places, 1.3 crore found absent at registered address, 3.1 crore permanently transferred; 12.7 lakh were placed in the ‘other’ category. “After purification of the rolls, there are now 45.8 crore voters present in 12 States/UTs. The removal of more than 6.5 crore ASDDs and other voters who were in the rolls but were not voting and were at risk of fraudulent voting in their names has resulted in a pure and accurate voter list serving the purpose of SIR. This explains the highest ever turnout in Assam and Puducherry on April 9.” State-wise, the percentage of roll refinement (net refinement divided by total voters before SIR) was highest in Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 16.6%, followed by UP at 13.2%, Gujarat at 13.1% and Chhattisgarh at 11.3%. West Bengal ranks fifth among 12 states/UTs in terms of purification percentage. It is noteworthy that apart from the 27.1 lakh who were removed from the rolls of Bengal after the decision, another 6 lakh were removed on the basis of objections to their inclusion in the rolls. West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Goa recorded a net decline of 10.9%, 10.6% and 10.2% respectively, while Puducherry saw a net decline of 7% in the number of voters. States like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala and Lakshadweep saw lower net extinction of 5.7%, 5.4%, 2.5% and 0.3% respectively. Of the 2 crore names added across 12 states/UTs, the highest number of names were from UP (92.4 lakh), followed by Tamil Nadu (35 lakh), Kerala (20.4 lakh), Rajasthan (15.4 lakh), Madhya Pradesh (12.9 lakh) and Gujarat (12.1 lakh).

Kolkata: PM Narendra Modi on Saturday stepped up BJP’s Bengal campaign, rejecting Trinamool Congress’s “Khela Hobe” slogan and framing the assembly elections as a fight to protect Bengal’s identity, while he promised to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to end “appeasement politics”. Modi said, “You have played too much” and those who “played for too long” will now have to face accountability. “Everyone will be accounted for.” Impressed by the crowd size at Katwa, he said it was a sign of a “big game” to come in Bengal. Addressing back-to-back rallies in Burdwan, Murshidabad and South Dinajpur, Modi accused the TMC of relying on “infiltrators” to create vote banks and intimidate majority groups. “Let UCC be implemented here; appeasement will stop forever. Bengal will make real changes this time,” he said, reiterating the manifesto promise issued by Union Minister Amit Shah to enact the law within six months of taking charge. Modi described governance in Bengal as dominated by “syndicate raj”. Linking corruption to the exodus of companies, loss of jobs and exodus of youth, he said, “Here there is syndicate government and the government is syndicate.” In Jangipur in Muslim-majority Murshidabad, Modi focused on identity and demographic change. He said, “TMC wants to use the votes of infiltrators to form a government of infiltrators. We will not allow Bengalis to become a minority in Bengal.” Responding to CM Mamata Banerjee’s criticism that the BJP will not fulfill its promises, Modi defended his party’s record. Citing support prices for jute and assurance that welfare schemes would continue, he said, “BJP keeps its promises.” “BJP will stop nothing but Trinamool’s loot.” He pledged that the first cabinet meeting of the BJP government will approve the implementation of Ayushman Bharat in Bengal. Seeking to reassure the Matua and Namasudra communities affected by the SIR, Modi said they are protected by the Constitution and promised to expedite the citizenship processes after assuming office. He also praised the Election Commission for violence-free voting in Assam and Kerala, citing the huge turnout on Thursday. Modi warned voters against “AI-generated disinformation”, alleging that Trinamool may release fabricated videos as polling approaches. “There is a conspiracy, and you need to be careful. Trinamool is panicking and as the elections approach, it will use conspiracies. We have seen this in Assam and Puducherry – rumors will be spread based on AI-generated videos. Don’t fall into that trap,” he said.

New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed optimism over the victory of the DMK-led alliance in the state assembly elections. He claimed that they would be able to get more than 200 seats in the elections, while he also attacked the BJP for trying to use the women’s quota as a “weapon” against the opposition. He also targeted AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, the Enforcement Directorate and the Centre.Stalin said the secular progressive alliance, which includes Congress, Left parties and VCK, will sweep the 234-member assembly and form the Dravidian Model 2.0 government. He claimed that five years of rule and welfare measures had strengthened public support for the DMK. “People have shown a lot of love and trust in my party and with their support, SPA will win more than 200 seats and form the Dravidian Model 2.0 government,” he said.

women quota controversy

The Chief Minister said the Central government was not serious about implementing reservation for women and accused the BJP-led Center of trying to use it to counter the opposition ahead of the delimitation process. “The central government is not worried about implementing reservation for women. If their concerns were genuine, they could have done it immediately. Instead of doing so, the BJP-led Center is thinking of using it as a weapon to deal with the opposition and conduct a delimitation exercise based on population,” he said.He said that women’s reservation should be implemented immediately without linking it to delimitation. Stalin also said that Tamil Nadu had first raised its voice on the delimitation issue after realizing that the state could be affected, and argued that states with successful population-control measures should not be penalized.

EPS attack

Stalin rejected Palaniswami’s allegation that his family was a “power centre”, calling it imaginary and aimed at diverting attention from the DMK government’s record. She also hit back at the AIADMK chief over his criticism on women’s safety and law and order, saying the Pollachi sexual harassment case was a reminder of the failures of the previous regime.He alleged that the AIADMK lacks ideology or principles and said that the Delhi BJP serves as its headquarters. On delimitations, he accused Palaniswami of being “dumb” and said the AIADMK leader was effectively supporting the BJP’s position.

ED and wellness claims

Stalin described the ED’s actions in the TASMAC and sand-mining cases as a “centre-staged, ED-produced drama” and accused the agency of becoming a “slave”. He said the alleged TASMAC scam and illegal sand mining cases were politically scripted.He also defended his government’s welfare schemes, saying the monthly entitlement of Rs 1,000 to women and the breakfast scheme for school children were among the initiatives closest to his heart. He said the Mahila Adhikar Yojana would be increased to Rs 2,000 in the next term, while the breakfast program would be extended to Class 8.This comes amid the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled for April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4. Stalin said the DMK-led alliance remains strong since 2019 and will also do well in Puducherry, which went to polls on April 9.

New Delhi: The uniform civil code (UCC) has emerged as a flashpoint in the West Bengal assembly elections. On one hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to implement it if BJP comes to power. At the same time, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has promised that if her party gets majority at the Centre, she will repeal this law.Addressing a rally in Jangipur in Murshidabad district, PM Modi said the BJP’s manifesto, released a day earlier, outlines a roadmap to introduce UCC as part of a broader effort to end “appeasement politics” in the state. The Prime Minister positioned the proposal as an integral part of governance and national security, while also linking it to the BJP’s broader election pitch in Bengal.