BJP Warns of Arson Plot at BDO Offices Ahead of Bengal Voter List Release

As West Bengal teeters on the edge of the 2026 Assembly Election cycle, the publication of the final electoral rolls has become a flashpoint for potential civil unrest. On Friday, Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition, issued a grave warning: he alleged that “anti-India forces” and ruling party sympathizers are planning to target Block Development (BDO) offices with arson to protest the large-scale deletion of names from the voter list.

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The apprehension follows weeks of heated rhetoric surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), a massive exercise aimed at “cleaning up” a voter list that hasn’t seen a full audit since 2002.

Also Read |Tamil Nadu Voter List Purge: 97 Lakh Names Deleted in SIR Phase 1

The Arson Warning: “BDO Offices Under Threat”

Adhikari’s claims are centered on the fear of localized anarchy once citizens discover their names are missing from the rolls.

• Intelligence Claims: Adhikari stated he has “information” regarding plots to set fire to BDO offices, which serve as the primary hubs for electoral data.

• Safety Protocols: He has formally requested the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to move sensitive voter data to secure, off-site locations to prevent the loss of records during potential violence.

• Historical Precedent: The BJP pointed to past incidents in Chakulia and Jalangi as evidence of how administrative offices have been targeted during political transitions in the state.

The 1.2 Crore Mystery: Claims vs. Reality

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been vocal in her opposition to the SIR, labeling it a “backdoor NRC.”

• TMC’s Figure: The CM claimed on Wednesday that 1.2 crore names (including 80 lakh under logical discrepancies and 58 lakh already deleted) are being stripped of their voting rights.

• BJP’s Counter: Adhikari dismissed this as “provocation,” suggesting the CM is intentionally inflating numbers to incite the public against the ECI.

• Central Force Arrival: In a rare pre-emptive move, the Union government has already sent 248 companies of CAPF to the state specifically to maintain order during the list’s publication.

Also Read |Tamil Nadu Voter List Purge: 97 Lakh Names Deleted in SIR Phase 1

Supreme Court’s Intervention: The Role of Judicial Officers

To ensure neutrality, the Supreme Court took the extraordinary step of deploying nearly 530 judicial officers to oversee the verification process.

• The “Adjudication” Mark: The list published on Saturday will feature names marked as “deleted” or “under adjudication.”

• Supplementary Lists: The court has ruled that those currently under review can still be added via supplementary lists on a continuous basis until the date of nomination, ensuring that genuine voters are not permanently disenfranchised.

Reality Check

The scale of name deletion is indeed historic, but the “1.2 crore” figure is contested. Still, even the official 58 lakh deletions recorded in December have created a massive administrative burden. Therefore, while the BJP’s arson warning is a political masterstroke for demanding more central forces, the threat of spontaneous protests at BDO offices is a legitimate concern in Bengal’s highly charged political environment. In fact, the presence of judicial officers—rather than just government staff—is the only factor currently keeping the “NRC conspiracy” narrative from boiling over.

The Loopholes

The EC is publishing the list on Saturday per the SC order. In fact, this is a “Continuous Revision Loophole”—while the “final” list comes out today, it isn’t truly final. Therefore, the “anarchy” Adhikari fears might be delayed as people realize they still have a window to prove their residency through the supplementary process. Still, the “Supervision Loophole”—where central forces remain under the nominal guidance of the state police—is what has BJP leaders like Sukanta Majumdar worried about the forces’ actual effectiveness on the ground.

Also Read |Tamil Nadu Voter List Purge: 97 Lakh Names Deleted in SIR Phase 1

What This Means for You

If you are a voter in West Bengal, check your name immediately on the CEO West Bengal website. First, realize that if your name is missing, it might simply be in the “Adjudication” category, which means you haven’t lost your right yet. Then, if your name is marked for deletion, collect your Aadhaar, Class 10 Admit Card, or Land Deeds and approach the designated judicial officer in your block.

Finally, understand that you should avoid crowded administrative areas on Saturday. You should stay updated through official ECI channels rather than social media rumors. Before you panic about “losing your citizenship,” understand that this is a voter list revision, not a citizenship test, and the Supreme Court is actively monitoring the fairness of the process.

What’s Next

The final electoral roll will be accessible to the public around 2:00 PM today, February 28. Then, look for the first supplementary list to be released by mid-March as judicial officers clear the remaining 60 lakh cases. Finally, expect the formal announcement of the Assembly Election dates in the second week of March, which will likely trigger the deployment of the remaining 232 companies of central forces.

Also Read |Tamil Nadu Voter List Purge: 97 Lakh Names Deleted in SIR Phase 1

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