The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has formally contacted the Election Commission of India (ECI), expressing severe concerns about potential irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. In a letter to both the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state, the party claimed that a substantial number of eligible voters may have been wrongly removed from the voter lists.

The correspondence outlined allegations of procedural violations, technical failures, and questionable decisions that could compromise the integrity of the election process. The document highlighted that, over the past few months, the party has consistently raised documented issues with the Election Commission, many of which have yet to receive a response, forcing them to seek intervention from the Supreme Court.

Procedural Violations and Mismanagement Cited

According to the letter, the SIR process did not adhere to statutory requirements, as the authority granted to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) was reportedly overlooked. The AITC alleged that District Election Officers and micro-observers were given powers that should only be exercised by EROs. The letter claimed that this situation resulted in systematic deviations from the established procedures, including unclear communication methods and a disregard for the legal power assigned to EROs.

The party stated that significant instructions regarding the SIR process were conveyed informally through messaging platforms, undermining the transparency and accountability that should be present in such a critical procedure. The letter further accused officials of rejecting valid government documents as proof of residence, despite the existence of guidelines that recognize these documents.

Technical Failures and Large-Scale Voter Deletion

Technical issues were also cited, with the AITC claiming that the ECINet portal used for electoral roll verification experienced glitches that rendered previously submitted documents inaccessible. This situation reportedly led to erroneous flags for review by election observers. One notable issue raised involved the alarming number of voter deletions during the revision process, with the letter mentioning that 6,366,952 names have been removed from the rolls, while an additional 6,006,675 voters remain under review.

The party highlighted an alarming discrepancy between the number of objections filed and actual deletions, indicating that over thirteen times more voters had been removed compared to the objections lodged. This situation raised significant questions about the validity of the revision process. Furthermore, it was reported that many elected officials, including councillors and MLAs, also faced deletions or were placed under review, despite their documented addresses.

Immediate Intervention Demanded by AITC

In the letter, the AITC called for the Election Commission to promptly intervene and rectify the situation. Key demands included restoring the powers of EROs, recognizing valid government-issued documents, conducting an independent audit to identify technical issues with the portal, and ensuring the transparent publication of supplementary electoral rolls.

The party argued that these irregularities represent more than just minor technical glitches; they reflect a concerning trend of procedural violations that threaten the foundation of the democratic system in West Bengal. The AITC concluded by urging the Election Commission to ensure that the final electoral rolls are accurate and legally compliant, offering to provide further documentation if required.

Recent Changes in Voter Numbers

Earlier, on February 28, the Election Commission released the final electoral rolls following the SIR process, indicating that 546,053 voters were deleted following the publication of the draft list in December 2025. The current total of registered voters in West Bengal stands at 70,459,284, down from 76,637,529, representing a significant change of over 6 million names. A press note from the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer detailed that 58,208,899 enumeration forms were not submitted, while the poll body identified over 24 million deceased voters and nearly 20 million who had relocated.

Additionally, the Commission noted that 60,066,675 electors under adjudication were included in the final voter list. These developments underscore ongoing complexities regarding the electoral process in the region.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share