Many migrant workers from Bengal have returned home after being summoned for hearings as part of the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of Bengal’s electoral rolls. In other cases, relatives had filled in the forms on behalf of migrant workers. Bengal has around 22 lakh registered migrant workers employed outside the state. The atmosphere of polarisation has heightened anxiety, particularly among migrant workers from the minority community. The Migrant Labourer Unity Forum has written to the Election Commission of India and the chief electoral officer of Bengal, urging them to introduce virtual hearings for migrant workers.

Source: The Telegraph January 04, 2026 01:35 UTC