Indian stock markets are set for a holiday-shortened next week, with both the NSE and BSE scheduled to remain closed on Tuesday, April 14, on account of Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti. Last week, the Indian stock market was closed for two days on Good Friday and Mahavir Jayanti
Advance registration for the Amarnath Yatra 2026 will begin from April 15 across India, giving pilgrims an early window to secure their permits. The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has announced that registrations will be available at more than 550 designated bank branches
Chandigarh:Month on, 10 in custody reveal how bank, MC officials ‘acted in collusion’The first breakthrough in the ₹116-crore fake FDR scam came with the arrest of realtor Vikram Wadhwa Published on: Apr 11, 2026 7:52 AM IST By Naina Mishra, Chandigarh Share via Copy link The disclosure
Tata Sons committed to build Air India into a world-class airline, Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran saysChandra's comments, and the Air India townhall, comes against the backdrop of the resignation of CEO Campbell Wilson last week. Updated on: Apr 10
Hyundai Motor India on Friday rolled out a new model of its Grand i10 NIOS at a starting prcice of Rs 7.09 lakh (ex-showroom). The VIBE Edition adds a slew of styling and enhanced features to the Grand i10 lineup, including a segment-first dashcam (available in VIBE and Asta) and a new colour:
Sam Altman breaks silence, shares rare family photo after Molotov cocktail thrown at his home at 3:45 amIn a personal blog, Sam Altman shared that a person allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at his house at 3:45 am. Published on: Apr 11, 2026 7:01 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link The
After saying feminism 'f***** up our society' Nora Fatehi says people missed the context of her commentNora Fatehi has clarified her previous comments on feminism and said that she wants men to step up and be accountable too. Apr 11, 2026, 07:05:37 IST By Santanu Das Share via Copy link Nora Fatehi
Tankers that want to pass through the Strait of Hormuz are being advised not to pay money to Iran to allow them through, after a ceasefire agreed on Tuesday failed to get traffic moving through the waterway again. The agreement was supposed to include reopening the strait but Iran has suggested
Has SIR altered West Bengal’s electoral map ahead of assembly elections
Has SIR altered West Bengal’s electoral map ahead of assembly elections?
Has SIR altered West Bengal’s electoral map ahead of assembly elections?
This question arises as districts or assembly constituencies with more Muslim voters suffered higher deletions during the adjudication process.
Published on: Apr 11, 2026 7:46 AM IST By Roshan Kishore, Abhishek Jha Share via Copy link Has the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal, with its unique adjudication feature, led to a gerrymandering of the state’s electorate ahead of assembly elections? Document verification in process under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. (ANI) This question arises because districts or assembly constituencies (ACs) with more Muslim voters suffered higher deletions during the adjudication process. Since Muslims have little probability of voting for the Bharatiya Janata Party and a high likelihood of voting for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), their deletion will help the BJP. But how does one answer the larger question about electoral outcomes and gerrymandering? The best way is to use a three-step process. These pages were the first to point out that SIR need not lead to a fall in the absolute number of voters. On August 2, 2025, while analysing SIR data for Bihar, the first state to undergo the process in this cycle, we argued the post-SIR elector number had fallen significantly compared to pre-SIR electors but was still larger than the number of actual voters in the previous pre-SIR election in Bihar. The people SIR deleted were likely the proverbial deadwood in the electoral roll and people who died, migrated or were registered in more than one place. We also rightly predicted a statistical boost to voter turnout in the state. The 2025 Bihar turnout data vindicated this assessment. Turnout numbers from Kerala and Assam, which underwent SIR and special revision, also support this argument. In Bengal, the final number of electors is still significantly higher than the number of actual voters who voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha, the latest pre-SIR election. However, for the number of voters to not fall in the upcoming state elections, its turnout will have to increase from 81.7% in 2021 to 88.9% in 2026 -- a record for the state. Also Read | At 8.4 million, SIR in Uttar Pradesh sees highest addition of voters from draft rollsWhat about AC-level changes in the number of electors in the state?
HT reported on Thursday that AC-wise deletion of voters during the adjudication process in West Bengal was significantly more skewed than the deletions under pre-adjudication SIR. This is driven by the trends in two kinds of ACs where a particular community is politically more salient than others. HT graphic 67 ACs which elected at least one Muslim MLA since 2011 had a higher share in deletions in adjudication than their share in pre-adjudication or even pre-SIR roll. This trend also holds true for the 16 ACs anecdotally identified by HT as seats dominated by the Matua community, a conglomerate of Dalit groups who largely moved from what is now Bangladesh. These are ACs where either the Matua Mahasangha, the apex body of the sect, has a strong presence or the local lawmaker is from the community. Nine out of these 16 ACs are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC). To be sure, both sets -- 67 Muslim ACs and the 16 Matua ACs -- are likely to have voters from other communities too. The number of electors in 2026 has fallen below the 2024 number in three ACs: Metiaburuz in South 24 Parganas district, and Lalgola and Samserganj in Murshidabad district. The TMC led Metiaburuz AC in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the Congress led in the other two. HT graphic More importantly, many ACs are on the precipice of witnessing a fall in the number of absolute votes cast in the 2026 election, compared to 2024 Lok Sabha. In 96 seats, the difference between the latest number of electors and 2024 voters is less than 10%. Another way to look at this question is to simulate the required turnout which will ensure that votes cast in 2026 do not fall compared to 2024 Lok Sabha. This number will have to be higher than 90% in 121 ACs. 29 of them are Muslim dominated and another 15 are Matua-dominated as described above.So, is there elector gerrymandering?
It is impossible to answer this question without compromising statistical integrity, unless one has a complete religion-wise breakup of Bengal’s pre and post-SIR roll. However, a case can be made on the lines of probability by assuming that greater deletions in Muslim and Matua ACs entails a likelihood of more Muslims and Matuas being deleted than other communities that also vote there. HT graphic There is one more statistical test which can be applied. Were Muslim and Matua-dominated ACs among the ones with higher turnout in 2024? Data shows that a greater share of Muslim dominated ACs were in the bottom half of ACs sorted by turnout, while it was the other way round for most Matua-dominated ACs. On the basis of this, one can reach two arguments -- one that pre-SIR electoral roll in Muslim-dominated ACs was more likely to have deadwood than Matua ACs, or two, the greater likelihood of a Muslim being elected made the Muslim electorate less eager to go out and vote. With the current elections being held against the backdrop of higher deletions in Muslim ACs, Muslim voters might be more willing to exercise their vote than last time. We will know more when seat-wise turnout data is released. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Roshan Kishore Roshan Kishore is the Data and Political Economy Editor at Hindustan Times. His weekly column for HT Premium Terms of Trade appears every Friday. Special Intensive Revision Sir West Bengal Assembly Elections West Bengal Election 2026 Map Check India news real-time updates, latest news from India and RBSE Rajasthan 12th Result 2026, latest at HindustanTime Home / India News / Has SIR Altered West Bengal’s Electoral Map Ahead Of Assembly Elections? See LessHas the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal, with its unique adjudication feature, led to a gerrymandering of the state’s electorate ahead of assembly elections?
This question arises because districts or assembly constituencies (ACs) with more Muslim voters suffered higher deletions during the adjudication process. Since Muslims have little probability of voting for the Bharatiya Janata Party and a high likelihood of voting for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), their deletion will help the BJP. But how does one answer the larger question about electoral outcomes and gerrymandering? The best way is to use a three-step process.
These pages were the first to point out that SIR need not lead to a fall in the absolute number of voters. On August 2, 2025, while analysing SIR data for Bihar, the first state to undergo the process in this cycle, we argued the post-SIR elector number had fallen significantly compared to pre-SIR electors but was still larger than the number of actual voters in the previous pre-SIR election in Bihar.
The people SIR deleted were likely the proverbial deadwood in the electoral roll and people who died, migrated or were registered in more than one place. We also rightly predicted a statistical boost to voter turnout in the state. The 2025 Bihar turnout data vindicated this assessment. Turnout numbers from Kerala and Assam, which underwent SIR and special revision, also support this argument. In Bengal, the final number of electors is still significantly higher than the number of actual voters who voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha, the latest pre-SIR election. However, for the number of voters to not fall in the upcoming state elections, its turnout will have to increase from 81.7% in 2021 to 88.9% in 2026 -- a record for the state.
Also Read | At 8.4 million, SIR in Uttar Pradesh sees highest addition of voters from draft rolls
67 ACs which elected at least one Muslim MLA since 2011 had a higher share in deletions in adjudication than their share in pre-adjudication or even pre-SIR roll. This trend also holds true for the 16 ACs anecdotally identified by HT as seats dominated by the Matua community, a conglomerate of Dalit groups who largely moved from what is now Bangladesh. These are ACs where either the Matua Mahasangha, the apex body of the sect, has a strong presence or the local lawmaker is from the community. Nine out of these 16 ACs are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC). To be sure, both sets -- 67 Muslim ACs and the 16 Matua ACs -- are likely to have voters from other communities too.
The number of electors in 2026 has fallen below the 2024 number in three ACs: Metiaburuz in South 24 Parganas district, and Lalgola and Samserganj in Murshidabad district. The TMC led Metiaburuz AC in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the Congress led in the other two.
More importantly, many ACs are on the precipice of witnessing a fall in the number of absolute votes cast in the 2026 election, compared to 2024 Lok Sabha. In 96 seats, the difference between the latest number of electors and 2024 voters is less than 10%. Another way to look at this question is to simulate the required turnout which will ensure that votes cast in 2026 do not fall compared to 2024 Lok Sabha. This number will have to be higher than 90% in 121 ACs. 29 of them are Muslim dominated and another 15 are Matua-dominated as described above.
There is one more statistical test which can be applied. Were Muslim and Matua-dominated ACs among the ones with higher turnout in 2024? Data shows that a greater share of Muslim dominated ACs were in the bottom half of ACs sorted by turnout, while it was the other way round for most Matua-dominated ACs.
On the basis of this, one can reach two arguments -- one that pre-SIR electoral roll in Muslim-dominated ACs was more likely to have deadwood than Matua ACs, or two, the greater likelihood of a Muslim being elected made the Muslim electorate less eager to go out and vote. With the current elections being held against the backdrop of higher deletions in Muslim ACs, Muslim voters might be more willing to exercise their vote than last time. We will know more when seat-wise turnout data is released.
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: West Bengal prepares for special intensive revision of electoral rolls ahead of 2026 assembly elections ECI Publishes Final Electoral Roll After SIR In West Bengal West Bengal SIR final electoral list on Feb 28 West Bengal SIR Final Electoral Roll To Be Published Today West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose resigns ahead of Assembly elections BJP urges EC to conduct 2026 West Bengal Assembly election in not more than 3 phases Dhanush Slams AI-Altered Raanjhanaa Re-Release Australian film altered in China to make gay couple straight Post-SIR rolls redraw WB's poll map West Bengal Govt Transfers 10 SPs Ahead Of Assembly Polls
Multiple people have been killed after gunmen targeted civilians at a picnic spot in western Afghanistan, officials and a local doctor have said. There have been different reported death tolls from the attack in the Enjil district of Herat province on Friday
Just now
Girl group Katseye have released their first music video without Manon, after she announced she was taking a break from the group. The group, who formed in 2023 on the reality competition series Dream Academy, uploaded the video for Pinky Up, which features only the five current members
Just now
Love Horoscope Today for April 11, 2026: This is a good time to focus on emotional stability rather than temporary excitLove Horoscope Today: Find daily astrological predictions for all sun signs. Published on: Apr 11, 2026 7:30 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link Aries Love Energy: Stability
Just now
Chandigarh: Sector-53 CHB project to have 6 floors, stilt parkingIn another first, the UT has also doubled the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) from 1.2 to 2.4 for the project, thus paving the way for higher-density development Published on: Apr 11, 2026 7:48 AM IST By Hillary Victor
Just now
After a season of turmoil, at last some light at the end of the tunnel for West Ham. Friday's thumping 4-0 win over Wolves - their biggest of the campaign so far - lifted West Ham out of the Premier League relegation zone, and plunged London rivals Tottenham into it.After a season of turmoil
Just now
School staffer held for killing 5-yr-old student in BiharA canteen guard was arrested for the murder and sexual assault of a five-year-old student at a Jehanabad school, with a principal also implicated. Published on: Apr 11, 2026 7:44 AM IST By Avinash Kumar Share via Copy link PATNA: Jehanabad
Just now
-12 R McIlroy (NI); -6 S Burns (US), P Reed (US); -5 J Rose (Eng), S Lowry (Ire), T Fleetwood (Eng) Selected: -4 T Hatton (Eng); -3 B Koepka (US); -2 X Schauffele (US); -1 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); Level S Scheffler (US), L Aberg (Swe); +4 J Rahm (Spa)The Masters
Just now
5 zodiac signs are likely to attract luck in love tomorrow, as per a tarot readerLove and emotional connections may take a positive shift for some zodiac signs as per a tarot reader on April 11, 2026. Published on: Apr 10, 2026 11:09 PM IST By Soumi Pyne Share via Copy link Love and emotional
Just now
Dehradun family celebrates birth of daughter with ‘Beti hui hai’ banner on decorated car: ‘Our laxmi has arrived’The video of the warm welcome was shared on Instagram by Diksha Anand. Updated on: Apr 11, 2026 7:33 AM IST By Sakshi Sah Share via Copy link A joyful scene outside a hospital in
Just now
A modified Hyundai Grand i10 from Gujarat has gone viral, and it’s easy to see why. In a video doing the rounds on Instagram, the small hatchback looks completely different from what we’re used to. The biggest change is the roof. It has been raised quite a bit, giving the car a tall
Just now
Has SIR altered West Bengal’s electoral map ahead of assembly elections?This question arises as districts or assembly constituencies with more Muslim voters suffered higher deletions during the adjudication process. Published on: Apr 11, 2026 7:46 AM IST By Roshan Kishore
Just now
As Pakistan celebrates its success in helping negotiate a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, its leaders are preparing to host the peace talks. A two-day holiday was declared in the country's capital of Islamabad ahead of the talks, which are due to begin on Saturday
Just now
James Wan shares how Lee Cronin's The Mummy is different: ‘We are coming out with a scary version of this particular IP’The Mummy returns with an audacious and twisted retelling. Producer James Wan reflected on what makes the character so enduring. Apr 10, 2026
Just now
Inflation in the US accelerated last month to its highest rate in nearly two years, as surging oil prices triggered by the US-Israel war in Iran started to spill over into the wider economy. Consumer prices climbed 3.3% over the 12 months to March, picking up from 2.4% in February
Just now
Anthony Davis was disrespected in Los Angeles; recalls Lakers' sudden Luka Doncic callDavis, a 10-time All-Star, expressed feeling blindsided and disrespected by the Lakers' trade to the Mavericks without prior communication. Published on: Apr 11
Just now
Anthony Davis shares fan letter after joining Dallas Mavericks; ‘boos not for you’Anthony Davis revealed an anonymous letter from a Mavericks fan after his Dallas arrival, highlighting frustrations following the Luka Doncic trade. Published on: Apr 11
Just now
New Delhi: More than 5.72 lakh households have availed the self-enumeration facility so far during the first phase of the Census 2027, the Registrar General of India (RGI) said on Friday. This reflects the growing participation in the digital initiative of the Census, it said.New Delhi: More than 5
Just now
Aaron Rai is placed T-10th, as Bhatia opens with under par round at MastersAaron Rai is placed T-10th, as Bhatia opens with under par round at Masters Published on: Apr 10, 2026 2:26 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Augusta Apr 10 Indo-British golfer Aaron Rai had an electric start with three birdies
1 days ago
Made a mistake on Instagram? This new edit button can help – If you’re fast enoughThis new feature is similar to how Instagram handles editing messages in DMs – a feature it introduced back in 2024. Updated on: Apr 10, 2026 4:40 PM IST By Shweta Ganjoo Share via Copy link Ever posted a
1 days ago
Motorists must switch to FASTag or pay higher charges via UPI; non-compliance can lead to penalties and denial of entry. Cash payments at highway toll plazas have officially been discontinued from today, April 10, as the government rolls out a fully digital toll collection system across national
1 days ago
Kantara mimicry row: Ranveer Singh to file revised apology in Karnataka HC, visit Chamundi temple to offer prayersRanveer Singh faced backlash for mimicking Rishab Shetty's expressions from Kantara Chapter 1 on stage at the IFFI ceremony last year. Apr 10, 2026
1 days ago
Ralph Fiennes has said he would love to reprise his role as Harry Potter's arch enemy Voldemort but he feels the "ship has sailed". The British actor played the villainous role in the original movie franchise from 2005 to 2011. An HBO TV adaptation of the hit book series is currently in production
1 days ago
Hailee Steinfeld reveals hidden partnership days after welcoming baby with Josh Allen: ‘Keeping a secret’Hailee Steinfeld shares her new partnership with Ashley Luxe following the birth of her daughter. Published on: Apr 10, 2026 2:20 PM IST Edited by HT US Desk Share via Copy link Just days
1 days ago
'Can rabies make humans bark like dogs'? Neurologist reacts to video of Mirzapur boyRabies does affect the brainstem but does not lead to a ‘person barking like a dog’, explains Dr Chawla. Published on: Apr 10, 2026 5:15 PM IST By Debapriya Bhattacharya Share via Copy link A video showing a
1 days ago
UPSC NDA II Final Result 2026: Parth Kumar Tiwari of UP tops National Defence Academy examUPSC NDA II Final Result 2026 announced. Parth Kumar Tiwari of UP has topped the examination and secured Rank 1. Published on: Apr 10, 2026 3:42 PM IST By HT Education Desk | Edited by Papri Chanda Share via
1 days ago
‘Unemployed but optimistic’: Indian woman in London shares how she is coping after losing jobAn Indian woman in London shared her job loss journey, spoke about rejection, self doubt, and choosing optimism during unemployment. Published on: Apr 10
1 days ago
The Jio network has launched an offer of Rs 339 recharge for its customers across India. At the very first sight, this appears to be a common recharge offer; however, it comes with some distinguishing features as well. This plan is built around a monthly validity
1 days ago
