West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision Faces Delays as 5 Lakh Voters Skip Hearings
In a significant development during the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal, approximately 5 lakh voters are at risk of having their names deleted from the electoral roll. This situation arises because these individuals have failed to respond to hearing notices issued as part of the voter verification process. Officials have confirmed that the hearing process, which was originally scheduled to conclude on Saturday, February 7, 2026, has not been completed in several districts, leading to concerns about voter disenfranchisement.
CEO Proposes Extension of Hearing Deadline to February 14
To address the backlog, State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal has taken proactive steps. He has directed all district electoral officers, who also serve as district magistrates (DEO-cum-DMs), to submit detailed data on pending hearings. Furthermore, Agarwal has formally proposed to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to extend the hearing deadline until February 14, 2026. If this extension is approved, the final electoral roll publication date will be pushed back to February 21, 2026, allowing more time for voter participation and verification.
Districts with Pending Hearings Identified
According to sources within the ECI, nearly 20 out of West Bengal's 294 Assembly constituencies are still grappling with pending hearings. These constituencies are primarily located in key districts, including North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, Malda, and Darjeeling. The district administrations of South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and Malda have already requested the CEO to extend the hearing schedule, highlighting the widespread nature of the delays.
A senior EC official emphasized that all necessary notices have been dispatched to voters. "The last date of hearing was February 7, and the final electoral roll was scheduled for publication on February 14. If the hearings are extended, the publishing date of the final list will be adjusted accordingly," the official stated, underscoring the flexibility in the process to ensure accuracy and inclusivity.
Background on the SIR Exercise and Previous Phase Outcomes
The SIR hearings in West Bengal commenced on December 27, 2025. Initially, the process faced slow progress, prompting authorities to increase the number of officers and hearing centers. This strategic move led to a significant boost in daily hearing volumes, with 5-7 lakh voters being heard per day in recent times. Additionally, the EC initially enforced strict documentation requirements but later relaxed these rules to streamline the process and accommodate more voters.
In the first phase of the SIR, the draft electoral roll published on December 16, 2025, saw the deletion of at least 58 lakh voters. According to the CEO's office, 92.40% of names were retained in this draft. Prior to the SIR exercise, as of October 27, 2025, the state's voter list contained 7,66,37,529 electors. Of these, 7,08,16,630 names appeared in the draft voters' list, while 58,20,899 were removed due to reasons such as being absent, shifted, deceased, or duplicate entries.
Breakdown of deletions from the first phase:
- 24.16 lakh electors identified as deceased.
- 32.65 lakh electors categorized as shifted or absent.
- 1.38 lakh electors found to have enrollment in multiple places.
This ongoing revision underscores the Election Commission's commitment to maintaining an accurate and up-to-date electoral roll, crucial for ensuring fair and transparent elections in West Bengal. The proposed extension aims to mitigate potential voter exclusion and uphold democratic principles.
