The crucial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal got off to a rocky start on Tuesday as technical failures and political disagreements created immediate obstacles in the voter registration process.
Technical Breakdown Halts Process
Across multiple districts of West Bengal, the electoral roll revision process faced significant disruption due to widespread technical issues with the Voter Helpline App and ERONET portal. Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who are responsible for processing new applications, found themselves unable to access the necessary digital platforms throughout the first day of operations.
"The technical glitch has prevented BLOs from downloading the required apps and accessing the portal since morning," confirmed a State Election Commission official, acknowledging the system-wide failure that left election officials frustrated and citizens waiting.
Political Firestorm Erupts
Even before the technical problems emerged, the revision process was already mired in political controversy. The ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition BJP have been engaged in a heated exchange over the authenticity of the current voter list and the timing of the revision exercise.
While the ruling party has accused the opposition of attempting to exclude genuine voters, BJP leaders have countered with allegations of duplicate entries and demanded a thorough cleanup of the electoral rolls. This political standoff has created an atmosphere of tension surrounding what should be a routine administrative process.
What Voters Need to Know
The Special Intensive Revision, which continues until February 8th, allows eligible citizens to:
- Register as new voters if they will turn 18 by January 1, 2024
- Apply for corrections to existing voter information
- Request deletions of names in case of relocations or deaths
- Submit objections regarding suspicious entries in the voter list
Despite the first-day technical challenges, election officials have assured the public that the process will continue as scheduled, with technical teams working urgently to resolve the connectivity issues. The success of this revision exercise is considered critical for ensuring fair and transparent elections in the politically sensitive state.
