The SIR exercise in Bengal was announced on October 27 last year, setting the stage for a significant electoral overhaul. As the state gears up for elections scheduled on April 23 and 29, the CEO, Manoj Agarwal, confirmed that the first supplementary list of disputed voters may be published today.
Currently, over 60 lakh names are pending in the adjudication list, with 29 lakh adjudications completed out of the 60 lakh cases under judicial review. The final electoral roll published on February 28 lists a total of 7,04,59,284 voters in West Bengal.
In a move to streamline the electoral process, the Election Commission has removed 73 Returning Officers (ROs) in West Bengal. This decision aims to enhance the integrity of the upcoming elections, which will now be held in two phases, a notable reduction from the previous seven to eight phases.
Manoj Agarwal stated, “Elections are being held in two phases in West Bengal after many years,” emphasizing the importance of this change. He further assured that “the Election Commission is committed to conducting free and fair elections,” a sentiment echoed by various officials in the state.
As the electoral landscape shifts, observers are keenly watching how these changes will impact voter turnout and overall election integrity. With vote counting planned for May 4, the pressure is on to resolve the pending disputes swiftly.
Amidst these developments, the electorate before the SIR exercise stood at 7,66,37,529, with 58,20,899 names deleted in the draft roll. These figures highlight the scale of the adjustments being made to ensure a fair electoral process.
Details remain unconfirmed as the situation evolves, but the focus remains on ensuring that every eligible voter is accounted for in the upcoming elections.
