Nearly 9.1 mn names deleted from Bengal electoral rolls after SIR exercise

Nearly 9.1 million voters have been deleted from the electoral rolls in West Bengal following the Special Intensive Revision exercise in the state, according to data released by the Election Commission.

The poll panel is yet to announce the finally altered voter base for the state after the roll revision process.

According to official data released on February 28, 6.366 million names, around 8.3 per cent of the electorate, were deleted since the SIR process began in November last year, reducing the voter base from about 76.6 million to just over 70.4 million.

More than 6.006 million electors, who were placed in the "under adjudication" category, were part of the 70.4 million voter base.

 

Over 2.716 million of 6.006 million 'under adjudication' voters have been deleted during a scrutiny by judicial officers, the EC data said.

More than 3.268 million of those in the 'under adjudication' category have been retained and included in the final rolls.

The final deletions, since the beginning of the SIR process, were around 9.083 million, according to the EC data.

"The revision exercise has been carried out in a phased and transparent manner. District-wise data has now been placed in the public domain to ensure complete accountability," a senior EC official said.

Of 6.006 million voters under adjudication, data for 5.984 million has been published, and the remaining 22,163 cases have been disposed of but are yet to be e-signed, he said.

"Once the pending procedural formalities, including e-signatures, are completed, there may be marginal changes in both deletion and inclusion figures," the official said.

The entire exercise has been undertaken in compliance with established guidelines, he said.

"Any further inclusion at this stage will be subject to legal provisions and directions, if any, from competent authorities," the official said.

Meanwhile, with the publication of the final supplementary list, the electoral roll for the first phase of West Bengal assembly elections has been "frozen" after midnight on Monday in accordance with prescribed norms, he said.

Of the 294 seats in the assembly, 152 seats will go to the polls on April 23 in the first phase, and the remaining 142 seats will vote in the second phase on April 29. The rolls for the second round will be frozen on April 9.

"There will be no further inclusion in the electoral roll at this stage. The list stands frozen as per law following the last date of nomination for the first phase," a senior Election Commission official told PTI.

"Any change hereon will depend solely on fresh directions, if any, from the Supreme Court," he said.

The Apex court, before which the SIR matter for West Bengal is being argued, will be hearing the case next on April 13.