Kolkata (Rajeev Sharma): The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has shared striking new data with the Election Commission (EC), revealing that nearly 34 lakh Aadhaar card holders in West Bengal have been recorded as deceased since the Aadhaar system was first introduced in 2009.
In addition, officials confirmed that another 13 lakh residents who never obtained Aadhaar numbers have also died in the same period. The information surfaced during a recent coordination meeting between UIDAI representatives and the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manoj Kumar Agarwal, amid the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state’s voter rolls.
Effort to Eliminate “Ghost” Voters
The EC had earlier asked all state electoral offices to work closely with UIDAI to weed out errors and duplications in voter lists. A senior official from the CEO’s office stated that the move comes in response to widespread complaints about “ghost voters,” deceased individuals, and multiple entries in the electoral database.
“The integration of UIDAI records with our voter data will help ensure that only eligible, living citizens remain on the rolls,” the official noted.
Banks Step In for Cross-Verification
To enhance accuracy, poll authorities are also tapping into data from banks, many of which have Aadhaar-linked accounts. Officials said several financial institutions have provided lists of accounts that have remained inactive or have not completed Know Your Customer (KYC) updates for years.
“These accounts often belong to individuals who are no longer alive. This information is helping us identify and remove corresponding names from the voter rolls,” the source added.
Large-Scale Enumeration Across the State
Under the SIR initiative, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are conducting extensive door-to-door verification to confirm voter details. Enumeration forms based on the 2025 electoral roll are being distributed, with data cross-checked against earlier rolls prepared in 2002.
According to official figures, over 6.98 crore enumeration forms — covering about 91 percent of the electorate — have already been circulated across West Bengal. The final draft list is expected to be released on December 9, after which discrepancies will be examined and applicants may be called for verification.
Accountability and Accuracy Stressed
Election authorities have warned that any inaccuracies or evidence of negligence in the verification process could lead to disciplinary action against the responsible BLOs. The Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) have been directed to maintain vigilance throughout the exercise.
Officials believe that the collaboration between UIDAI, the EC, and financial institutions will significantly improve the reliability of the state’s voter list and prevent manipulation or misuse of electoral data in the future.
As West Bengal continues its revision drive, the process marks one of the most comprehensive attempts yet to cleanse the electoral rolls of deceased and duplicate entries, ensuring greater transparency ahead of the next elections.
