By: M.K. Venu Published in: *The Wire* Date: May 11, 2026 Source: https://thewire.in/rights/full-text-bengal-voter-exclusion-is-a-blot-on-democracy-says-former-cec-om-prakash-rawat *Note:* Please access the source to read the entire article
*"In an interview <https://youtu.be/3y3OJHtF5yo?si=AzOLR3oTPK2F1CgR> with *The Wire*‘s founding editor M.K. Venu, days before the first round of polling in the West Bengal assembly election, former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Om Prakash Rawat raised concerns over how those elections were conducted, especially the unresolved eligibility of nearly 27 lakh voters before polling day. He called the situation unprecedented and warned that denying eligible voters the right to vote would be 'a blot on democracy'”.*
