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The Straits Times (13 April 2026)

More than nine million people have been struck off the voter rolls in an eastern Indian state governed by a regional rival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), triggering protests and allegations of electoral malpractice days before the voting begins.

The Election Commission of India put out district-wide details of eligible voters in West Bengal last week that showed the proportion of removal of electors at around 11.85 per cent, according to the Press Trust of India.

Voting for West Bengal state assembly is scheduled in two phases starting on April 23, with results due on May 4.

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