Kolkata: The Election Commission (EC) will hold a conference on Sept 10 in Delhi, where all chief electoral officers (CEOs) will elaborate on their preparedness for a special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in their states.
The SIR, which opposition parties see as an attempt to disenfranchise chunks of voters, has just been over in Bihar and is set to roll out in Bengal ahead of next year's assembly polls.
All CEOs have been asked to attend the conference with detailed data on voters' lists. Senior officials involved in the preparation of electoral rolls are also required to attend the meeting, according to EC's letter.
The CEOs also have to present information on the last SIR in their states.
In Bengal, an SIR was last held in 2002.
The EC wants to know whether data from the last SIR was uploaded on the CEO portals and information on the steps taken to facilitate inclusion of names on the voters' lists.
Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly opposed SIR, describing it as "NRC in disguise". On Thursday, while taking part in a debate on the harassment of Bengalis in BJP-governed states, she said in the assembly that she would not accept any infringement on citizens' rights.
Sources indicated that the SIR in Bengal is unlikely before the Pujas. State CEO Manoj Agarwal has repeatedly requested Nabanna for officers to fill posts for additional CEO, joint CEO and deputy CEO.
Several posts for electoral registration officer and additional ERO are also vacant and that could hinder the implementation of SIR, an official said.
Agarwal is expected to submit a report to EC by Sept 9 on the vacancies and the need for extra booth-level officers, given that 14,000 additional booths will be set up before the assembly polls.