ECI Data Released
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially disclosed the first set of figures pertaining to deletions from West Bengal's electoral rolls following
an adjudication process. Out of a total of 60,06,675 names that were initially marked for review after being omitted from the rolls, a substantial 27,16,393 individuals, equating to 45.22%, have now been removed. This data was made public late on Monday night, marking the culmination of a month-long intensive adjudication exercise. The impact of these deletions is notable, as it has led to a decrease in the state's total voter count from 7.66 crore at the commencement of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise to 6.77 crore. This signifies a reduction of 89 lakh voters, or an 11.62% decline in the overall electorate.
District-wise Impact
Murshidabad district, predominantly populated by minority communities, recorded the highest number of cases undergoing adjudication, with a staggering 11 lakh names. Following closely were Malda with 8.28 lakh, South 24 Parganas with 5.22 lakh, and North 24 Parganas with 5 lakh cases. Conversely, Jhargram and Kalimpong districts had the lowest numbers of pending cases, with 6,682 and 6,790 respectively. When examining the percentage of deletions, Nadia district, known for its Matua community, experienced the most significant removal rate at 77.86%. Hooghly, which has a substantial Muslim population, followed with 70.33% deletions. Other districts with high deletion percentages include Purba Bardhaman (57.4%), North 24 Parganas (55.08%), and Paschim Bardhaman (53.72%). Despite these high numbers in certain districts, minority-dominated areas like Malda and Murshidabad, while having a high volume of adjudicated names, showed lower deletion percentages at 28.91% and 41.33% respectively.
Adjudication Process Details
The entire adjudication process, which began on October 27 last year as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, was overseen by 705 judicial officers under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court. The apex court recently declined a plea seeking an extension for the finalization of electoral lists, underscoring the urgency of the process. Following the initial publication of the final list on February 28, the state's voter count had already dropped to 7.04 crore. This figure included the 60.06 lakh electors whose names were flagged for review by Supreme Court-appointed judicial officers. A senior ECI official emphasized that individuals whose names have been removed post-adjudication retain the right to appeal this decision before designated tribunals. The current voter list, as of Monday midnight, has been frozen for the first phase of the general elections scheduled for April 23. For those whose names were deleted after adjudication and who are eligible to vote on April 29, there is a window until April 9 to present their case before tribunals for potential reinstatement. However, these tribunals are reportedly yet to commence their operations, adding a layer of uncertainty for affected voters.
