A high-level delegation from the Election Commission of India is making its second visit to West Bengal this month to assess the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state. The team, led by Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti, arrives in Kolkata on Tuesday for a comprehensive four-day review.
ECI Team Composition and Schedule
The visiting delegation includes prominent ECI officials S B Joshy, Principal Secretary, Malay Mallick, Principal Secretary, and Abhinav Aggarwal, Deputy Secretary. During their intensive four-day visit, the team will focus on multiple districts including Kolkata, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad, and Malda.
The team's agenda includes a crucial meeting with District Election Officers and Electoral Registration Officers from Kolkata North, Kolkata South, and South 24-Parganas on Tuesday. West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal will participate alongside additional, joint, and deputy CEOs.
Special Intensive Revision Progress
The house-to-house distribution of enumeration forms, which began on November 4, continues until December 4. According to Election Commission data, over 7.61 crore enumeration forms have been distributed across West Bengal as of Saturday.
The total electorate in West Bengal stands at 7.66 crore, making the electoral roll revision exercise particularly significant. However, 40 assembly constituencies have recorded below 75% enumeration form distribution, including:
- Jadavpur
- Baruipur Purba and Baruipur Paschim
- Sonarpur Dakshin
- Kasba and Tollygunge
- Behala Purba and Behala Paschim
- Maheshtala
- Kolkata Port
Additional Workshop and Verification Processes
Beyond the SIR review, the ECI team will conduct a workshop on First Level Check of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), ensuring the voting equipment meets all technical standards ahead of future elections.
The Election Commission has also outlined comprehensive verification measures, including conducting hearings for deceased voters and collecting information from banks, life insurance authorities, and government organizations where Aadhaar is linked. This multi-pronged approach aims to create the most accurate and updated electoral rolls possible.
This marks the second visit by an ECI team to West Bengal during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise, underscoring the importance the commission places on ensuring electoral integrity in the state with its substantial voter base.
