Unfinished Hearings Prompt EC To Consider Extending Bengal Voter Revision

The Election Commission is weighing a deadline extension for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal after hearings could not be completed in several Assembly segments.

Election officials indicated that around five lakh voters who did not attend scheduled hearings may face removal from the voter list. Although the hearing process was meant to close on February 7, district authorities in multiple regions have reported pending cases.

In response, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer has sought permission to continue hearings until February 14. Approval of the request would shift the release of the final electoral roll to February 21.

Sources in the Commission said unfinished hearings remain in about 20 constituencies, primarily across Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Malda, and Darjeeling. Administrations in some of these districts have formally requested additional time to complete verification.

The SIR exercise began on December 27 and accelerated after manpower and hearing facilities were expanded. Authorities now report that several lakh voters are being heard daily.

Earlier, during the initial phase of the revision, the EC removed over 58 lakh entries from the draft voter list issued in December. Out of 7.66 crore registered electors in the state, more than 92 percent were retained, while deletions were linked to death records, migration, absence, and duplicate enrolments.