The Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated an inquiry into alleged irregularities reported during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The large-scale verification exercise, which commenced on November 4, 2025, and will continue until December 4, 2025, is part of the Commission’s annual effort to ensure transparency and accuracy in the voter registration process ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
According to official data, more than 5.15 crore enumeration forms have been distributed across the state, covering all 42 parliamentary constituencies. Over 80,000 booth-level officers (BLOs) have been deployed to carry out the door-to-door verification process, tasked with collecting updated voter information and verifying the credentials of new applicants. The ECI has emphasized that this year’s SIR is critical to addressing concerns related to duplication, deceased entries, and inaccurate addresses in the state’s voter list.
Reports of irregularities have surfaced from several districts, prompting the Commission to seek detailed reports from district election officers. Complaints range from the alleged exclusion of eligible voters to the inclusion of fictitious names, sparking political controversy in the politically sensitive state. Officials have assured that all complaints are being thoroughly examined and that corrective measures will be implemented wherever discrepancies are confirmed.
A senior Election Commission official stated that the ongoing review aims to “strengthen the credibility of the electoral process and ensure that every eligible citizen’s name is correctly reflected in the rolls.” The Commission has also directed all district election offices to maintain close coordination with local administrative bodies to prevent any manipulation or procedural lapses during the verification phase.
In addition to field verification, the EC is also leveraging digital tools and public feedback mechanisms. Citizens can verify their names, raise objections, or submit corrections through the official Voter Helpline App and the National Voters’ Service Portal (NVSP). Public display of draft rolls is scheduled for mid-December, following which the final list will be published early next year.
Political parties across West Bengal have been closely monitoring the process. While the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has urged the Commission to ensure a fair and inclusive revision, opposition parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] have demanded a comprehensive audit of the voter lists to eliminate potential malpractices.
The EC’s intervention underscores its ongoing efforts to uphold electoral integrity amid heightened political tension in the state. As the revision drive progresses, transparency and citizen participation are expected to play pivotal roles in ensuring the accuracy of West Bengal’s electoral rolls ahead of future polls.
