In Kolkata, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar asserted that no eligible voter’s name would be removed from the electoral rolls in West Bengal during the upcoming assembly elections. He emphasized that the Election Commission's priority is to ensure free, fair, and peaceful polls in the state, amidst a charged political atmosphere.
Addressing a press conference, Kumar said that the people of West Bengal have always believed in "peaceful and participatory democracy". He emphasized that every eligible voter will have the opportunity to cast their ballot.
Kumar also spoke about the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which has been a sensitive issue, particularly between the TMC and the BJP. He stated that the process is being carried out across the country in accordance with constitutional norms.
The objective of the roll revision is to ensure that the voter list remains "pure," meaning that only eligible voters are listed.
Kumar stated that many cases in West Bengal are currently pending for scrutiny. He also mentioned that names placed in the "under adjudication" category are being processed strictly according to judicial directions.
The CEC also announced that West Bengal has around 80,000 polling stations, of which nearly 61,000 are located in rural areas. Furthermore, there will be 100 per cent webcasting in polling booths across the state to enhance transparency during the voting process. He also coined the EC’s slogan for the upcoming elections, “Chunao porbo, Paschim Banger gorbo” (The election phase is the pride of West Bengal).
The SIR exercise has become a contentious political issue in the state, with opposition parties and the ruling Trinamool Congress trading allegations over alleged voter deletions and "manipulation" of electoral rolls ahead of the assembly polls.
Official data released on February 28 shows that around 63.66 lakh names, about 8.3 per cent of the electorate, have been deleted since the revision began in November last year, bringing down the voter base from about 7.66 crore to a little over 7.04 crore.
Additionally, more than 60 lakh electors have been placed under the “under adjudication” category, meaning their eligibility will be determined through legal scrutiny in the coming weeks, a development that could potentially reshape electoral equations in several constituencies.
