Desk Correspondent , Kolkata - The Election Commission of India (ECI) has incorporated nearly 500,000 new voters into West Bengal's electoral rolls between the final publication on February 28 and the closure of nominations for the upcoming assembly elections. This addition stems from approximately 709,000 Form-6 applications submitted during the two nomination phases, with successful verifications enabling their inclusion under the ECI's ongoing rolling enrolment process. The state is set to vote in two phases on April 23 and April 29, potentially allowing further updates as pending cases resolve before polling.

These enrolments follow earlier expansions, including 188,207 names added with the February 28 final roll and reports of around seven lakh total new voters ahead of the polls, pushing the electorate to 6.82 crore. The surge has intensified political tensions in the poll-bound state, where similar Form-6 processes previously drew scrutiny—such as 4.3 lakh applications post-draft roll in January and bulk submissions sparking 'demographic change' allegations.

Trinamool Congress leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee and Mamata Banerjee, have accused the BJP of submitting thousands of Form-6s illegally in a single day across constituencies, claiming it imports 'outsiders' from states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar while deleting locals. ECI officials defend the process, stating totals adhere to protocols with detailed data available if needed, amid Supreme Court oversight on revisions.