Parties, imams & RWAs in final SIR weekend push before Dec 4 deadline
Times of India | 30 November 2025
Kolkata: With the Dec 4 deadline for submitting Special Intensive Revision (SIR) enumeration forms approaching, neighbourhoods across Kolkata saw a steep rise in activity over the final weekend. Booth level officers (BLOs), political workers, religious leaders, and residents' associations intensified outreach efforts as many voters were yet to hand in their forms.
The SIR drive, which began on Nov 4 with BLOs distributing enumeration forms door-to-door, requires voters to verify or update their details before submission. Officials and volunteers said the final weekend was crucial, as a large number of households either delayed filling the forms or were unreachable during earlier visits.
Parties across political spectrum mobilised grassroots workers to make announcements in congested neighbourhoods on autos, while several religious figures urged congregations after Friday prayers to complete the exercise. In many housing complexes, residents' associations circulated reminders through social media groups and arranged small help desks.
"We wanted to use the weekend to collect as many pending forms as possible, so we set up special camps from Saturday morning in pockets of Kiddrpore, Ekbalpore, and Bhukailash," said Serazul Karim, vice-president of the South Kolkata TMC Minority Cell. He said his team organised a brief street-corner meeting on Friday to alert residents about the approaching deadline for form submission.
Residents' associations echoed the urgency. "Most people are at home on weekends. People will be free to fill up and submit forms," said Samir Gupta of the New Town Citizens' Welfare Fraternity. He said the association set up a community-centre camp where volunteers helped residents submit forms.
In parts of Salt Lake and New Town, BLOs said they were still unable to trace some individuals. "On Saturday, I went around to verify whether these residents have shifted out or if there's another reason for delay," said a BLO in Salt Lake.
Religious leaders, too, framed the exercise as a civic responsibility. "No one should treat this casually. Every voter must complete the form and submit it on time," said Maulana Shafique Qasmi of Nakhoda Mosque.
In Burrabazar and Posta, BJP workers made phone calls to voters. "Many who moved to other parts of Kolkata or Howrah have not submitted forms yet," said Anup Jaiwal, a BJP mandal prabhari in Posta.