The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to begin a sweeping revision of its electoral rolls in Bengal, part of a planned nationwide exercise that has already triggered a political storm over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar.
In Bengal, the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll ~ the first of its kind in the state since 2002 ~ will roll out in August or September. It will involve door-to-door verification by booth-level officers (BLOs), who will assist citizens with the submission of forms and documentation to prove voter eligibility.
Manoj Kumar Agarwal, chief electoral officer (CEO) of West Bengal, confirmed this. The move, which officials say is part of a routine administrative update to clean the rolls of ineligible voters, has sparked outrage from the ruling Trinamul Congress (TMC) in Bengal.
Trinamul MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ECI of attempting to “manipulate the electorate” ahead of future elections. “This is a politically motivated exercise designed to disenfranchise genuine voters, particularly in Bengal,” she said.
The BJP has pushed back, arguing that the revision is crucial to eliminate fake entries and detect illegal immigrants. “In an order dated 24 June, the Election Commission of India stated that the step is being taken as part of its constitutional responsibility to maintain the integrity of the electoral roll. The voter list is riddled with irregularities. This is a necessary step to protect the integrity of our democracy,” BJP MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato said.
Under the new guidelines, voters will be required to present any one of 11 approved documents ~ such as a birth certificate, passport, school certificate, or government-issued ID ~ but not Aadhaar, PAN, or driver’s licenses as standalone proof.
The ECI has clarified that individuals enrolled during the 2002 revision in West Bengal will not need to resubmit documents. Those added to the rolls after 2002 must provide one valid proof of eligibility.
Voters born before 1 July 1987, may submit documents in their own name. Those born between 1987 and 2002 must submit a parent’s document or proof of inclusion in the 2002 voter list. Citizens born after 2002 may be required to submit documents of both parents, unless already listed in the previous revision.
Amid public confusion, officials reiterated that a birth certificate is not mandatory, and that multiple document options are available to establish eligibility.
The Election Commission has stressed that the revision is not aimed at targeting any community. “Refugees and infiltrators must not be conflated,” a senior ECI official said, urging citizens not to fall for misinformation.
The process will be carried out through both online and offline modes, ensuring participation from citizens even if they live outside their home states. However, officials warned that failure to complete the required documentation could result in names being struck off the electoral rolls.
The last Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal was conducted more than two decades ago under the then-Left Front government. This latest effort, the Commission says, is a continuation of nationwide revisions carried out since the 1950s to maintain an accurate and updated voter database.
As the process gears up, political tensions are expected to intensify in Bengal, a state infamous for its high-stakes electoral battles and deep party rivalries.
Protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists continue to rage in Bihar, with the issue echoing in Parliament as well.
According to the Election Commission, 56 lakh names have been marked for deletion from Bihar’s voter rolls, including 20 lakh dead voters, 28 lakh voters who have permanently moved to another state, 7 lakh individuals registered in more than one location, and one lakh uncontactedable voters.