Kolkata: A three-member ECI team in Bengal reached Kolkata to assess the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Deputy Election Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti, Deputy Secretary Abhinav Agarwal, and Principal Secretary S.B. Joshi will stay till November 8, reviewing the progress in Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar districts.
Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal and a technical team are joining the ECI team in Bengal to ensure smooth implementation of the voter list update. The team is directly interacting with booth-level officers (BLOs) to verify that they respond quickly to voter concerns and collect accurate data.
To improve communication, the CEO’s office activated the “Book a Call with BLO” app and now monitors it regularly. If a BLO ignores or delays voter calls, the district election officer will immediately issue a reminder to ensure accountability.
During the first phase, BLOs are visiting every home to verify voter details and collect forms. Once this stage ends, authorities will publish a draft voter list. In the second phase, voters and political parties can file objections or corrections. The final voter list will be released by March 2026.
This initiative marks the first large-scale revision since 2002. The Election Commission aims to ensure a transparent, inclusive, and error-free electoral roll for the upcoming elections in West Bengal.
–IANS
