The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership in West Bengal has accused the Trinamool Congress government of delaying the census exercise in West Bengal so that the State’s ruling party can take “political advantage of a vote bank politics”.
This allegation comes at a time when political temperatures are soaring in the State over impending SIR (Special Intensive Revision) by the Election Commission of India amidst opposition by the Trinamool Congress.
“The Trinamool government is delaying this process, seemingly to gain political advantage in vote-bank politics. Instead of prioritizing the interests of the common people, they are giving precedence to achieving their own political goals,” State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said on social media.
Mr. Bhattacharya claimed that while other States in the country have finalized their administrative boundaries in accordance with the central government’s guidelines and have already started census activities, West Bengal is the only state that has not yet issued a notification for the census.
“Even though a gazette notification was issued on June 16, 2025, the Trinamool government is moving at a slow pace, raising concerns about neglecting the interests of the general public,” the BJP leader said.
Mr. Bhattacharya said that even though a gazette notification was issued on June 16, 2025, the Trinamool government is moving at a slow pace, raising concerns about neglecting the interests of the general public.
The allegations on delaying the census comes at a time Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to hold a conference of all Chief Electoral Officers on October 22-23 on the subject of SIR.
Meanwhile, the BJP leadership in the State has also alleged that fake birth and death certificates being issued from a state run hospital in Kharibari, an area bordering Bangladesh in North Bengal.
Citing the reports, State BJP president demanded investigation by Central Bureau of Investigation in the matter. “Foreigners are getting Indian citizenship papers through fake certificates—this is not only a violation of the law but also a direct threat to India’s sovereignty. The administrative apathy and corrupt management of the state government have created such a terrible situation on the border,” he added.
Siliguri BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh has raised the issue and written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 19 alleging that 850 fake birth certificates were issued Khairbari Rural Hospital. Citing that the development raises questions on internal security of the country and the State government cannot prevent such malpractices the BJP legislator has sought action against those behind such certificates.