West Bengal Assembly Polls: Lakhs of Voters Under Adjudication Face Exclusion Risk
In a significant development ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, lakhs of voters whose names are omitted from the first supplementary list of electors under adjudication may be unable to cast their votes. The list, released late on March 23, has raised concerns about voter exclusion in the poll-bound state.
Adjudication Process and Voter Scrutiny
According to highly placed sources, the eagerly awaited list does not specify the exact number of voters under adjudication whose names have been removed. However, state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal revealed in Kolkata that out of 60 lakh voters placed under adjudication following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, approximately 29 lakh have been reviewed to date. Agarwal did not disclose the number of voters removed from the list during this process.
Earlier this month, an initial scrutiny of 10 lakh such voters led to the removal of around 3 lakh names from the voters' list. Sources privy to the details indicated that with 60.06 lakh voters under adjudication in the state, and only 29 lakh scrutinised so far, the number of rejections could rise as the adjudication process continues.
Implications for Voter Inclusion
Voters whose names do not appear in the final electoral rolls after the SIR can apply for inclusion until the last date of nomination. However, those whose cases have been rejected during adjudication must apply afresh as new voters. The catch, as sources told this newspaper, is that if such applicants submit the same set of documents that led to their initial rejection, their applications are likely to be rejected again, barring them from voting in the upcoming Assembly elections.
With around 3 lakh rejections recorded in the initial phase, this number is expected to increase as the adjudication of all 60 lakh electors is completed. Voters reapplying after rejection will need to furnish fresh documentation to be considered for inclusion.
Background on Electoral Roll Revisions
On February 28, following the completion of the SIR exercise, the final electoral rolls in West Bengal excluded approximately 61.78 lakh voters, while another 60.06 lakh were placed under adjudication. This move has sparked debates over voter rights and potential suppression in the state's political landscape.
The situation underscores the critical need for voters to ensure their documentation is in order to participate in the democratic process. As the Assembly elections approach, the exclusion of lakhs of voters could significantly impact voter turnout and election outcomes in West Bengal.
