West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership in West Bengal has accused the Trinamool Congress government of postponing the census in West Bengal so that the state’s ruling party could take “political advantage of vote bank politics”.
The allegation comes at a time when political temperatures are soaring in the state over the upcoming SIR (Special Intensive Revision) by the Election Commission of India amid opposition from the Trinamool Congress.
“The Trinamool government is delaying the process, it seems that it wants to gain political advantage in vote bank politics. Instead of prioritizing the interests of the common people, it prefers to achieve its 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 as per the central government’s directions and have already started the census, West Bengal is the only state which has not yet issued the census notification.
“Though a gazette notification was issued on June 16, 2025, the Trinamool government is proceeding at a slow pace, raising fears of 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 proceeding at a slow pace, raising fears of neglecting the interests of the general public.
The allegation of postponement of counting comes at a time when the Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to hold a conference of all Chief Electoral Officers on SIR on October 22-23.
Meanwhile, the BJP leadership in the state has also alleged that fake birth and death certificates are being issued from a government hospital in Kharibari, an area bordering Bangladesh in North Bengal.
Citing the reports, the BJP state president demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the matter. “Foreigners obtaining proof of Indian citizenship through fake certificates is not only a violation of the law but also a direct threat to India’s sovereignty. Administrative apathy and corrupt leadership of the state government have created such a dire situation at the border,” he added.
Siliguri BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh raised the issue and wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 19 that 850 fake birth certificates were issued by Khairbari Rural Hospital. Stating that the development raises questions about the country’s internal security and the state government cannot prevent such malpractices, the BJP lawmaker sought action against those behind such certificates.
Published – 22 Oct 2025 03:30 IST
