Names of nearly 91 lakh voters have been deleted from the electoral rolls in West Bengal following the Special Intensive Revision exercise in the state, according to the data released by the Election Commission.
The data released by the poll body on February 28 showed around 63.66 lakh voters, about 8.3 per cent of the state’s total electorate, had already been removed since the SIR process began in November last year.
The revised 7.04 crore included over 60.06 lakh electors in the “under adjudication” category. Of these, over 27.16 lakh voters were later deleted following scrutiny by judicial officers, while more than 32.68 lakh were retained and included in the final rolls.
90.38 LAKH NAMES DELETED FROM BENGAL ELECTORAL ROLLS
According to the poll panel, approximately 90.38 lakh names have been removed since the start of the SIR process.
“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, adding that out of the 60.06 lakh voters under adjudication, data for 59.84 lakh has been published, while 22,163 cases have been resolved but are awaiting e-signatures.
“Once the pending procedural formalities, including e-signatures, are completed, there may be marginal changes in both deletion and inclusion figures,” the official said.
“Any further inclusion at this stage will be subject to legal provisions and directions, if any, from competent authorities,” the official said.
‘NO FURTHER INCLUSION IN THE ELECTORAL ROLL AT THIS STAGE’
“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.
Meanwhile, with the release of the final supplementary list, the electoral rolls for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections have been frozen as per norms.
Of the state’s 294 seats, 152 will go to polls on April 23, while the remaining 142 seats will vote on April 29. Rolls for the second phase will be frozen on April 9.
Election officials confirmed that no further additions to the voter list will be made at this stage. Any changes will depend on legal provisions or directions from competent authorities, including the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to hear the matter on April 13.
