West Bengal SIR: Special drive in all 24 districts to include eligible voters

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 OCTOBER 2026 —

West Bengal’s election machinery has launched a coordinated drive across all 24 districts to enrol voters whose names were removed during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, acting on direct instructions from the Election Commission of India (EC).

The SIR, a periodic exercise aimed at updating and correcting the state’s electoral rolls, has drawn intense scrutiny after a number of names were reportedly deleted. Critics argue that the deletions could disenfranchise legitimate voters, prompting calls for a remedial process. The latest campaign is therefore framed as a corrective measure to address gaps identified in the SIR exercise.

District Election Officers (DEOs) in West Bengal have begun a proactive outreach programme, according to a press release issued by the office of the state Chief Electoral Officer, Neelam Meena.

The release states that, “as per instructions of the Election Commission, 24 DEOs of West Bengal have started a proactive campaign to ensure that no eligible elector is left out of the electoral rolls.” Special camps are being set up throughout the state, and the notice invites any person with a complaint to contact the concerned Booth Level Officer (BLO), Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO), Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or DEO.

The statement concludes, “We are committed to ensure that no eligible voter is excluded from the voter list.”

Congress general secretary in‑charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, amplified the press release on social media, attaching a screenshot of the EC‑issued note. In his post, Ramesh accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of “shamelessness,” saying, “After having delivered the assembly election to the BJP in a brazenly fraudulent manner, the CEC has had this Press Note issued.

There is no limit to Gyanesh Kumar's shamelessness.” The Congress party further alleged that the CEC is implementing a “Method Of Disenfranchising Indians (MODI)” through the SIR row, underscoring the political dimension of the controversy.

The controversy intensified after The Indian Express reported that two senior election commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had formally objected on record at least 14 times over the past ten months to decisions and orders predominantly related to the SIR process. Their objections, documented in internal records, highlight dissent within the EC hierarchy regarding the conduct and outcomes of the revision exercise.

In response, the Election Commission reiterated that divergent views and observations are a normal part of deliberations within any institution. The EC affirmed that all its orders carry full legal sanction and adhere to established statutory procedures, emphasizing the body’s procedural legitimacy despite internal disagreements.

The rollout of special camps and the invitation for grievances aim to close any residual gaps left by the SIR. Voters are urged to approach their local BLO, AERO, ERO or DEO for assistance, while election officials continue to monitor the inclusion drive across the state’s districts.

The initiative proceeds amid a charged political atmosphere, with the Congress party maintaining its criticism of the CEC’s handling of the roll revision and the EC defending the legality of its actions.