GHOST VOTERS
Supreme Court seeks responses of Centre, states and UTs on PIL for implementation of Right to Education
The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre, all states, and Union Territories. This follows a Public Interest Litigation seeking the implementation of the Right to Education law. The law ensures free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14. The PIL also calls for the nationwide implementation of the National Education Policy 2020.
Poriborton Yatra begins in Bengal as BJP makes SIR voter deletions central poll plank
Following the publication of West Bengal's revised electoral rolls, the BJP has launched a political offensive, claiming over 50 lakh "infiltrators" were removed and making it a central plank. The party's 'Poriborton Yatra' aims to revive momentum and sharpen anti-incumbency against the TMC ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls.
SIR hearings: Nadia tops ‘illegal voter’ list, none flagged in South Kolkata or Bankura
West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision process has identified over 11,000 illegal voters. Nadia district leads with 9,228 such electors. This exercise aims to clean up voter lists. The ongoing hearings are a focal point of political debate. The final electoral rolls will reveal the impact of these deletions.
Mohd Shami, actor-MP Dev summoned in Bengal voter roll revision
Bengal's Special Intensive Revision process has begun. Cricketer Mohd Shami and actor Dev's family are called for hearings. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee raised concerns about irregularities. Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari attacked the Chief Minister's letter. He stated the revision exposes fake voters and illegal infiltrators. The process is seen as a threat to TMC's electoral prospects.
58 lakh names off West Bengal rolls under SIR, reshaping electoral map across districts, high-profile seats
The draft electoral rolls published on Tuesday show the state's electorate shrinking from around 7.66 crore voters to over 7.08 crore, after names were deleted on grounds ranging from death and permanent migration to duplication and non-submission of enumeration forms.
TMC says Bengal draft rolls 'puncture' BJP's '1 crore Rohingyas' claim as 'ghost voters' at 1.83L
West Bengal's draft electoral rolls have been released ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. The Trinamool Congress claims the rolls refute BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's assertion of one crore illegal voters. The draft rolls show 1,83,328 'fake' or 'ghost' voters.
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34 lakh Aadhaar card holders identified as 'deceased' in West Bengal, UIDAI informs EC
West Bengal's electoral rolls are undergoing a rigorous revision, with UIDAI data revealing approximately 34 lakh Aadhaar cardholders marked as deceased since 2009. This initiative, alongside bank data, aims to identify and remove ghost, deceased, and duplicate voters. Booth Level Officers are conducting door-to-door verification to ensure the accuracy of the electoral rolls.
Remember, bhoot ka bhi vote hota hai
In Bihar’s record-breaking voter turnout, there’s another unseen electorate — ghosts. The piece humorously suggests that the dearly departed remain civically active, casting votes and attending rallies. When villages report more votes than people, perhaps it’s not fraud but democracy extending beyond the living — a truly “inclusive” electoral spirit.
Bengal SIR row: TMC 'misinformation' sparks NRC fears, opposition accuses political intimidation
Bengal's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls faces political turmoil as the Trinamool Congress allegedly spreads misinformation, equating the process to NRC registration and warning of detention camps. Opposition parties accuse the TMC of deliberately misleading voters to secure victory in the 2026 assembly polls, while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee plans protests against the revision.
Kolkata: BJP complains to CEO over TMC leader’s alleged threat to BLOs in Cooch Behar
A Trinamool leader in Cooch Behar faces accusations of threatening election officials. The leader allegedly warned Booth Level Officers to provide the 2002 voter list or face consequences. The BJP has lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer. The Trinamool Congress has countered by questioning the selective imposition of a Special Intensive Revision process in Bengal.
SIR in Bengal may lead to deletion of 1.2 crore 'illegal voters': Union minister Shantanu Thakur
A Union minister claims 1.2 crore illegal voters may be removed from West Bengal's voter list. The Trinamool Congress warns this special revision will primarily affect Matua refugees. The move has become a political flashpoint ahead of the 2026 assembly polls. Both parties are vying for the Matua community's significant electoral influence.
Zombie voters who choose not to vote
As Bihar's election season heats up, a curious phenomenon emerges: the sudden outrage of habitually apathetic citizens over voter list discrepancies. These individuals, who treat voting as a mere inconvenience, are now fiercely protesting the removal of deceased or fictional names.
‘Operation Ghost SIM’: Assam man who helped route fake numbers to Pakistan-based WhatsApp accounts arrested
Assam Police arrested Mostafa Rahman, the prime suspect in a fake SIM card racket with alleged links to Pakistan, bringing the total arrests to eleven since May 16. 'Operation Ghost SIM,' a joint effort with the Indian Army, uncovered a network using fraudulently obtained SIM cards for cybercrime and communications with Pakistani agents.
Congress MP Gogoi files motion to discuss verification of Electors' Photo Identity Cards in Lok Sabha
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to discuss electoral reforms, focusing on the verification of Electors' Photo Identity Cards (EPIC). He raised concerns about duplicate entries and voter impersonation. Opposition members questioned the effectiveness of current measures.
EC's proposed consultations with UIDAI to 'clean up' voter lists acceptance of our charge: Congress
The Election Commission has decided to link Aadhaar with voter IDs, acknowledging issues of suspicious names in voter lists raised by Congress. Rahul Gandhi emphasized the need to ensure no eligible citizen is deprived of their vote and to address duplicate and dubious voter ID numbers.
Burlington voters approve $172 million bonds for water infrastructure; back gun ban reforms
Burlington voters have decisively approved $172 million in bonds to modernise the city’s outdated water infrastructure. They also supported charter amendments to limit firearms in licensed venues and to provide city officials with more authority over eviction notice timelines. These initiatives are designed to boost public safety, enhance housing stability, and upgrade vital services, but they still need the green light from state lawmakers.
TMC accuses EC officials, BJP of conspiring to include names of outsiders in Bengal's voters' list
The Trinamool Congress accused Election Commission officials of conspiring with the BJP to include outsider names in West Bengal's voter list, benefiting the BJP. They claimed that officials are adding names without proper verification, especially in border areas, and demanded that the Centre address the issue.
Delhi election results 2025: 5 power moves that helped BJP win and cripple AAP
BJP secured a decisive victory in the Delhi assembly elections, winning 48 out of 70 seats. Factors include BJP's strategic campaigning, middle-class discontent, and Kejriwal's diminished appeal due to controversies like 'Sheesh Mahal'. BJP's populist promises and Modi's influence also played significant roles.
Are there really ghosts in the voting machine?
Strange EVM malfunctions are reported in parts of India, with some attributing it to human tampering and others to supernatural causes. While some demand a return to ballot papers, experts argue that the EVMs are tamper-proof. The unexplained occurrences are causing debates and raising concerns about the legitimacy of elections in those states.
Three plain reasons for electoral defeat
When an expected election victory turns into a loss, the possible explanations are miscounted votes, manipulated voting machines, or wrong decisions by voters swayed by last-minute promises or rumours. The article examines these rationalizations for an unexpected defeat.
Donald Trump or Kamala Harris: These voters will decide who will win the U.S. presidential elections
A tiny percentage of voters from swing states known as the Torn Twenty could swing the election in favour of Kamala Harris or Donald Trump in 2024. These voters are unsure about the two candidates.
HC declines to order linking of FB, Twitter, WhatsApp accounts with Aadhaar, PAN
A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar said linking of accounts with social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp, with Aadhaar, PAN or any other identity document requires framing of policies or amendment in existing laws by the central government and this exercise cannot be done by the court.
EC terms reports of 'ghost voters' in recent polls incorrect
The poll panel reacted days after a section of the media reported that there was discrepancy in the total turnout and the actual number of electors in some states.
Don’t give them a ghost of an excuse
Rajasthan's legislature is certainly not the only chamber in the world to acknowledge phantasmal forces.
At Rs 3 crore, RK Nagar byelection is India’s costliest ever
We are doing our best to make the election free and fair,” said Batra. Static surveillance teams have also been strengthened, said special chief electoral officer Vikram Batra.
In Pithoragarh schools open in poll time only
Over 50 schools in Pithoragarh dist have remained closed for the past few years because the families of children studying here have migrated from the area.
In 37 villages of Champawat, all voters are over 60 years
The number of such `ghost villages' is believed to have gone up after the June 2013 flash floods. Estimates are that almost 3,500 villages in the state have little or no population left.
Arun Jaitley snipe at Sushma Swaraj: Who is in or out is marginal issue
Sriramalu, a close associate of tainted mining barons Reddy brothers, is being fielded by BJP from Bellary constituency in Karnataka.
Age on voter card to be considered for grant of pension
Punjab government is trying to learn lessons from its past mistakes and not lose over Rs 250 crore per annum that it is losing to ghost pensioners.
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