Voting begins in West Bengal after millions purged from India's voter lists

Voting in one of India’s most closely watched state elections has begun after a national voter roll revision removed millions of names and raised concerns over disenfranchisement.

West Bengal is one of the few large states not governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party.

It is looking for gains in a state long dominated by a regional party, while a victory for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would bolster her position as a leading opposition figure.

The Election Commission cited reasons like duplicate or deceased voters when revising the voting lists, and Modi's party said it was a routine administrative exercise.

Critics say the deletions disproportionately affected marginalized communities.