Kolkata Voter Enrollment in Chaos as CEO Declares Forms Illegal
In a dramatic turn of events, unmapped voters across West Bengal are facing confusion and uncertainty as they approach a critical Saturday deadline for document submission. With just 72 hours remaining before the hearing cutoff, administrative chaos has erupted over the proper procedure for including these voters in the electoral rolls.
Conflicting Instructions Create Voter Registration Turmoil
The controversy began on Thursday morning when Booth Level Officers (BLOs) across multiple constituencies reportedly received a specialized form for field entry reports. These documents were intended for unmapped voters who lack Election Commission-notified identification papers but still seek inclusion in the voter list.
However, by Thursday evening, Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal threw the entire process into disarray by declaring he had no knowledge of these forms. "The forms are illegal," Agarwal stated emphatically. "The Election Commission did not send any such form. I was completely in the dark about this development."
BLOs Caught Between Conflicting Authorities
BLOs throughout Kolkata and its suburbs reported receiving contradictory instructions. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) had directed them to prepare field entry reports for unmapped voters, which would enable these individuals to retain their names on electoral rolls. The forms distributed on Thursday morning required a specific certification process.
The controversial field enquiry report format demanded that five authorized voters from the same locality sign the document alongside the respective BLO and supervisor to verify an unmapped voter's authenticity. This created an elaborate verification chain that BLOs were expected to implement within the tight deadline window.
CEO's Social Media Clarification Adds to Confusion
CEO Agarwal later reinforced his position through social media, posting: "The above document being circulated on social media is incorrect/false. EROs/AEROs are required to consider the documents mentioned by ECI in SIR notification of 27.12.2025 and those referred to in order dated 19.01.2026 of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India..."
This public declaration left BLOs in a difficult position. Many had already received the forms and were preparing to implement the instructions. Following the CEO's "illegal" designation, officers now wonder whether they should proceed with house visits to unmapped voters to complete the field enquiry reports.
Ground-Level Implementation Reveals Complex Requirements
A Jadavpur-based BLO provided insight into the implementation challenges: "I received the form from my AERO, who operates under the Alipore SDO office. To my understanding, the form originated from the SDO office itself. I was instructed to visit unmapped voters' residences and obtain signatures from five neighbors, in addition to my own signature and that of my supervisor."
The form's requirements presented significant hurdles. The five neighbors providing signatures must confirm multiple aspects about the unmapped voter:
- The individual's authenticity as a legitimate voter
- Their belonging to an economically disadvantaged section of society
- Their poor educational qualifications preventing document production
- Their residence in the area for over fifty years
Administrative Breakdown Suspected
Swapan Mandal, general secretary of Votekarmi O BLO Aikya Mancha, suggested an administrative communication failure: "The EROs and AEROs appear to have sent the forms to BLOs without informing the CEO's office. This has created a situation where ground-level officers are receiving instructions that contradict official declarations from higher authorities."
CEO Agarwal confirmed he has sought reports from District Magistrates in South 24 Parganas and Murshidabad after learning about form distribution in Jadavpur and Hariharpara constituencies. This investigation aims to determine how the controversial forms entered circulation without his office's authorization.
With the Saturday deadline rapidly approaching, unmapped voters face uncertainty about whether their last-minute documentation efforts will be accepted. The conflicting messages from different levels of election administration have created a perfect storm of confusion that threatens to disenfranchise vulnerable voters during a critical electoral period.
