After the Election Commission of India (ECI) did not extend the deadline for the submission of enumeration forms for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) directed all Booth Level Officers (BLOs) that no form can be uploaded on the BLO application after December 11.
According to ECI sources, there were over 58 lakh voters whose SIR forms were not returned till 4 pm on Thursday.
“As per data till 4 pm on Thursday, a total of 58,08,232 enumeration forms were not uploaded on the BLO application. Out of these, there are 24,18,699 deceased voters, 12,01,462 untraceable voters, 19,93,087 permanently shifted voters, 1,37,475 voters enrolled at multiple places, and 57,509 others,” an EC official said.
“As of now, 58 lakh forms are not uploaded. This number may increase to 60 lakhs, but won’t increase beyond that,” the ECI official added.
There is an estimated 7.62 crore voters in West Bengal.
According to the sources, after completing the digitisation process, the list of deceased, untraceable, and shifted voters will be finalised and published in each booth on December 16.
“Once the draft electoral roll is published on December 16, voters can re-apply for any deletion or addition in the roll. Even if a voter flags any name of deceased, untraceable, or duplicate voter in his or her booth, they can apply for the deletion of such names. The ECI will verify the request,” the official quoted above said.
“After updation of enumeration forms on the BLO application, ERO, AERO, and observers will verify each form,” he added.
The ECI on Thursday extended the timeline for SIR in five states and one Union Territory following requests from the chief electoral officers. However, the enumeration period for Goa, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Rajasthan and West Bengal ended on Thursday.
The month-long SIR process began across West Bengal and 11 other states and Union Territories on November 4. Later, it was extended to December 11.
The draft electoral rolls will be published on December 16, and the final rolls on February 14 next year.
EC observer Murugan faces protest from women during review
Meanwhile, the EC-appointed observer C Murugan on Thursday faced protests while inspecting the ongoing SIR drive in the Falta area in South 24 Parganas district.
Murugan was leading a team of the poll body, to review the progress of SIR work, including verification by BLOs, scrutiny of the number of deceased voters in each booth, and door-to-door checks.
The incident took place where a group of local women, reportedly Trinamool Congress supporters, surrounded the bureaucrat and raised slogans demanding the release of funds for housing under the ‘Awas Yojana’ and pending wages for the 100-day MGNREGA scheme.
Murugan later expressed displeasure over the disruption, calling it a deliberate attempt to obstruct the process. Sources in the poll body said that he was expected to submit a detailed report to the Election Commission. State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Aggarwal declined to comment, saying action will be taken after looking into the whole matter.