While midterm elections are occurring in the United States, India just completed their state elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (B.J.P.) victory was overwhelming, even in states that publicly opposed them. This election leaves the domestic and international community with questions of authenticity. 

Indian elections took place across five states in April and May (Al Jazeera). Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister and a figurehead of the B.J.P., heavily campaigned in opposition-led states, especially West Bengal. The B.J.P. focused on the “weak economy” in West Bengal under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, founder of the Trinamool Congress (T.M.C.). Though a breakaway from the Communist Party of India, the T.M.C. remains rooted in their practices, championing ideas of secularism, justice, and social equality. 

Banerjee has been in power since 2011, and is a fierce critic of Modi. Until now, West Bengal has never been under B.J.P. rule. Banerjee reaffirmed that they would not take power over the state, claiming until the last vote count that her party would win. However, the Election Commission of India ultimately announced that the B.J.P. won 176 out of 294 (almost 60%) party seats in West Bengal. 

B.J.P. leaders are satisfied with the outcome. West Bengal’s B.J.P. Chief Samik Bhattacharya told Agence France-Presse that West Bengal was an “election of rejection…the people want change.” While this could be true, the B.J.P. failed to mention that, before state elections, approximately nine million names were removed from voter rolls, particularly in West Bengal (Al Jazeera). This process, called Special Intensive Revision (S.I.R.), updates the electoral rolls to remove illegible voters, including those who have died or moved. To be an eligible voter, one must become “S.I.R. verified.” This verification requires individuals to provide documentation, such as government-issued identity cards, pension payment cards, passports, birth certificates, educational certificates, permanent resident certificates, or other official documents issued before July 1, 1987 (Voter Guide 2026). Verification is free, and documents are able to be uploaded online or given to a Booth Level Officer during home visits. Even if an individual has voted previously, they risk their name being removed if the verification is not completed. 

S.I.R. verification has only occurred in 12 of India’s 36 states and territories: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. In total, almost 12% of voters in West Bengal were denied the right to vote. Almost 25% of West Bengal identifies as Muslim, which is a key indicator of why millions of individuals were marked as unable to vote. As stated by Al Jazeera, Muslims were disproportionately affected by the removal of names from the voter roll. The states in which S.I.R. was implemented either have a high minority population of Muslims (such as Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal), or have a history of being anti-B.J.P. (such as Kerala). 

According to Britanica, the B.J.P. can be traced back to the party of Bharatiya Jana Sangh (B.J.S.). This party built its foundation on Hindu essentialism and the belief that India needs to construct itself on Hindu ideals. In 1967, the Janata Party was formed in collaboration with three other pro-Hindu groups. However, the party collapsed in 1967 due to internal disputes. The B.J.P. was formally established in 1980. The party advocates a “Hindutva,” or Hindu-ness, ideology that can be traced back to the B.J.S. It seeks to uphold Hindu beliefs while preventing secularism. In 1989, the B.J.P. began to achieve electoral success, widely due to its anti-Muslim stance. They encouraged the erection of a Hindu temple in place of the Babri Masjid (Mosque of Babur) in Ayodhya. The destruction of the Babri Masjid occurred in 1992 and left over 1,000 individuals dead. 

S.I.R. verification was enacted not to remove ineligible voters, but to block voters that would halt B.J.P. progression in opposition-led areas. This is why S.I.R. targeted anti-B.J.P. areas instead of enforcing verification in all states. The verification mirrors Jim Crow voting laws in the United States, where Black people were prevented from voting unless they passed a written exam, obtained government documents, and proved that their grandparents voted. S.I.R. verification is intentionally inequitable, and its removal is essential for future free and fair elections. 

Because of S.I.R., the B.J.P. won areas never won before. Though some may claim the people of these states wanted change, it is impossible to know if this is true. In order to ensure a fair vote count, S.I.R. verification either needs to be removed from the eligible voting process or established in all states. If S.I.R. verification continues to be partially implemented, the B.J.P’s true popularity will not matter, because they will keep winning elections based on the removal of Muslim and opposition voters.