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Migrant Exodus Ahead of WB Polls: Voter Roll Fears Trigger Reverse Migration Surge

| Apr 19, 2026, 04:24:48 PM | TOI.in
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A growing wave of reverse migration is unfolding across India as migrant workers head back to West Bengal ahead of the Assembly elections. Triggered by fears surrounding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, many workers believe that failing to vote could impact their inclusion in voter lists and future access to welfare benefits. In cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, domestic workers, construction labourers, and informal sector employees are urgently booking tickets back home. With trains heavily waitlisted and limited availability, many are opting for long-distance bus journeys despite financial strain and job uncertainty. Entire clusters of migrant workers are travelling together, prioritising the journey home over wages and employment stability. The urgency has intensified as polling dates approach, with metro cities already reporting labour shortages in households and small industries. The situation highlights how political messaging and uncertainty around voter registration processes are shaping migration decisions, leading to widespread disruption in urban workforce availability.

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