Snehashish roy
Actor Swastika Mukherjee has said she will not be able to cast her vote in the ongoing 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, citing the absence of her name from the electoral roll despite being an eligible voter.
Taking to social media, the actor shared her concern over being excluded from the voter list, stating that she had checked multiple times but could not find her name. She expressed disappointment at being unable to participate in the democratic process, especially during a high-stakes election in her home state.
Mukherjee said that she had been a registered voter in previous elections and was surprised to discover that her name was missing this time. She added that she had not received any prior notice regarding the removal, nor was she aware of any procedural lapse on her part that could have led to the exclusion.
Her statement comes amid a larger controversy surrounding the revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal ahead of the polls. The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise has led to the deletion of a significant number of names, with reports indicating that millions of voters have been removed from the rolls across the state.
The actor highlighted that despite her efforts to verify her status, there was no immediate resolution available that would allow her to vote in the current election cycle. She noted that the issue reflects a broader problem affecting many voters who have found themselves in a similar situation.
According to available data, a large number of individuals whose names were removed from the electoral roll have filed appeals before tribunals. However, many of these cases remain pending, and the Supreme Court has indicated that those whose appeals are unresolved may not be allowed to vote in the ongoing elections.
Mukherjee’s comments have drawn attention on social media, with several users echoing similar concerns about missing names and difficulties in restoring their voting rights in time for polling. The issue has become a significant talking point during the election, with questions being raised about the accuracy and implementation of the revision process.
The 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections are being held in two phases, with voting scheduled for April 23 and April 29 across 294 constituencies. The electoral roll revision has emerged as one of the central issues in the run-up to the polls, alongside debates on governance, identity and voter inclusion.
Mukherjee’s inability to vote underscores the practical impact of these changes on individual voters. While the Election Commission has maintained that the revision aims to remove duplicate and ineligible entries, critics argue that the process has led to unintended exclusions affecting legitimate voters.
The actor did not indicate whether she plans to pursue further legal or administrative remedies but stated that the situation has left her disappointed. Her remarks add to the growing list of voices raising concerns over voter accessibility during the ongoing election process.