SILIGURI — The Trinamool Congress (TMC) launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission on Sunday, March 1, 2026, after the name of Indian cricket star Richa Ghosh appeared in the “under adjudication” category in the latest electoral rolls. The party has characterized the move as a blatant attempt at “silent invisible rigging,” suggesting that the electoral process in West Bengal is being manipulated to disenfranchise legitimate voters, including national icons who have brought glory to the country.
Richa Ghosh, a 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batter and a key member of India’s World Cup-winning squad, is a resident of Ward No. 19 under the Siliguri Municipal Corporation. Beyond her cricketing achievements, Ghosh recently made headlines by joining the West Bengal Police in the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and is currently serving as an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in the Siliguri Police Commissionerate. The TMC argued that placing such a prominent public servant and international athlete under “adjudication”—a status that flags a voter’s eligibility for further scrutiny—is both absurd and humiliating.
In a strongly worded statement on X, the TMC questioned the integrity of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, claiming that if a celebrated figure like Ghosh can have her democratic rights put on hold, the common voter stands little chance against “systematic humiliation.” The party alleged that this is part of a broader “voter purge” designed to silence Bengal’s voice. The controversy comes amidst a heated political climate in the state, where the ruling party has repeatedly accused the Election Commission of acting at the behest of the central government to prune the voter lists of genuine residents.
While the Election Commission has yet to provide a specific reason for flagging Ghosh’s name, the “under adjudication” status typically arises during intensive revisions when there are discrepancies in addresses or documentation that require physical verification. However, the TMC maintains that the timing and targets of these flags are politically motivated. As the debate over the purity of the voter list intensifies, the inclusion of a high-profile athlete in the list of flagged voters has provided the state’s ruling party with significant ammunition to challenge the transparency of the upcoming electoral process.
