Kolkata
Amid growing confusion and fear surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal today assured that no legitimate voter’s name will be deleted from the voters’ list.
Addressing reporters after an all-party meeting, Agarwal said the Election Commission is committed to conducting a transparent and error-free revision.
“There is no reason to panic. No valid voter’s name will be deleted. If any name is removed by mistake, the person will be notified and given a hearing before any final decision is taken,” he said.
Referring to reports that an elderly man from Panihati allegedly died by suicide fearing NRC-like consequences, the CEO said, “The SIR is a routine process, not connected with NRC or citizenship verification. People should not be misled by rumours.”
Agarwal clarified that the verification process will begin from November 4, when Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will start visiting households to distribute enumeration forms and collect data.
“BLOs will gather information through a mobile app. Every voter will have a unique QR code. The process will be compared with the 2002 electoral roll to ensure accuracy,” he explained.
He added that the 2002 electoral roll will serve as the base year for West Bengal.
“If a voter or their parents’ names were listed in the 2002 roll, there is no need to show any additional proof of citizenship. Only if the name is missing from the 2002 or 2003 lists, additional documents such as proof of residence or birth will be required,” Agarwal said.
The CEO also made it clear that the district election officers must assist voters in obtaining necessary papers.
“It is their duty to provide documents. If any original documents have been destroyed due to natural calamities or other reasons, duplicates will be issued. Voters can also contact the CEO’s office for help,” he added.
Responding to concerns about the safety of BLOs during field visits, Agarwal said, “The state government is responsible for providing security to the BLOs. The Commission has full faith in the state police. We are not considering any deployment of central forces at this moment.”
Agarwal said that every district will have a dedicated helpdesk to resolve any confusion related to the SIR. “We want this entire exercise to be 100 percent transparent and error-free,” he asserted.
The Election Commission has already announced that the draft revised voters’ list will be published on December 9, followed by the claims and objections phase. The final electoral roll will be released on February 7, 2025.
Emphasising that there is “no scope for confusion in Bengal”, Agarwal concluded, “We had enough time to prepare here, unlike in Bihar. We will ensure that every eligible voter’s right is protected and that no genuine voter faces any injustice.”
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