Election Commission Releases Fifth Supplementary List for Bengal Electoral Roll
The Election Commission (EC) on Monday published the fifth supplementary list, which includes approximately 3 lakh names covering both inclusions and exclusions. This marks a significant step in the ongoing process to finalize the electoral roll for Bengal.
Processing of Pending Cases
Out of the little over 60 lakh pending cases under adjudication, names of close to 38 lakh individuals have been published. Commission sources stated that of these 38 lakh cases, nearly 45% of the names were rejected by judicial officers and are included on the deletion list. This highlights the rigorous scrutiny applied to ensure the integrity of the electoral roll.
Timeline of Supplementary Lists
The commission published the first supplementary list on March 23, comprising nearly 10 lakh names. The second list was released on March 27 with 21 lakh names. From Saturday onwards, the EC has published one supplementary list daily, each containing about 2 lakh names. By Sunday, judicial officers disposed of close to 40 lakh pending cases, demonstrating efficient handling of the adjudication process.
Appellate Tribunals and Online Portal
The EC has constituted 19 appellate tribunals to hear appeals against orders passed by designated judicial officers regarding the inclusion or exclusion of prospective electors in the Bengal electoral roll. The online portal for filing appeals to the tribunal has also been activated, providing a streamlined and accessible mechanism for individuals to contest decisions.
Nominations for 2026 Bengal Polls Begin
Monday also marked the first day of nominations for the 2026 Bengal polls. In the first phase, 152 constituencies are scheduled to go to the polls. On Monday, 78 nominations were filed by 59 candidates, indicating active participation from political aspirants.
Regional Breakdown of Nominations
East Midnapore led the activity with 20 nominations from 11 candidates, followed by West Midnapore with 16 nominations and 13 candidates. In north Bengal, Cooch Behar reported 12 nominations (8 candidates), while North Dinajpur saw eight nominations for as many candidates. Dakshin Dinajpur followed with five nominations from four candidates.
Jalpaiguri, Jhargram, and Purulia each reported four nominations, with most candidates in these regions filing single sets of papers. Darjeeling and West Burdwan saw lower activity, with three and two nominations, respectively. Six districts — Alipurduar, Bankura, Birbhum, Kalimpong, Malda and Murshidabad — recorded zero nominations on day one.
