West Bengal's Voter Count Drops Significantly After Electoral Roll Revision
West Bengal's electoral landscape has undergone a substantial transformation, with the state's voter count experiencing a sharp decline of over 75.7 lakh individuals. This represents a reduction of nearly 10% from the previous figure of 7.6 crore voters recorded before the commencement of the special intensive revision of the electoral roll.
Details of the Voter Deletion Process
The draft list published in December initially excluded 58.2 lakh voters categorized as ASD—absent, shifted, dead, or duplicate. Following the completion of the special intensive revision, an additional 5.5 lakh names were struck off, and 60 lakh cases were placed under adjudication. This series of actions brought the state's electoral roll strength down to approximately 6.4 crore voters.
Election Commission officials have indicated that the rejection rate for cases under adjudication is currently fluctuating between 35% and 40%. As of recent updates, about 36 lakh adjudication cases have been disposed of, with close to 32 lakh cases vetted by Tuesday. Based on the prevailing rejection rate, it is estimated that approximately 12 lakh names from the under-adjudication pool will not be reinstated to the final voters' list.
Ongoing Adjudication and Future Projections
The Election Commission has been actively publishing supplementary lists to manage the adjudication process. The first supplementary list was released late on Monday, with a second list scheduled for Friday and a third anticipated on April 3. Despite these efforts, around 24 lakh cases remain under adjudication and are yet to be resolved by judicial officers.
Considering the current trends and rejection rates, West Bengal's final voter count is projected to stabilize at approximately 6.8 crore. This figure accounts for the deletions already implemented and the anticipated outcomes of the remaining adjudication cases.
Appeals Process and Tribunal Functionality
Individuals whose names have been deleted from the electoral roll will need to await further instructions before they can file appeals. The appellate tribunals, which were constituted on March 21, have not yet commenced operations. A senior Election Commission official explained that the state government has proposed four locations for these tribunals, but the Calcutta High Court has suggested utilizing the Judicial Academy in New Town.
Officials from the High Court, state government, and Election Commission are scheduled to visit the Judicial Academy on Friday to assess its suitability. Following this inspection, the High Court will make a definitive decision regarding the tribunal locations and their total number. The official emphasized that the court will also determine the operational details for the tribunals.
The first supplementary list comprises about 10 lakh names, encompassing both additions and deletions. These cases were received from the Calcutta High Court with digital signatures. The second supplementary list is expected to be published within 4 to 6 hours after the High Court transmits the adjudicated names with e-signatures post-5 PM on Friday.
The Election Commission has yet to provide a specific timeline for when deleted voters can formally submit their appeals before the appellate tribunals. This uncertainty leaves many individuals in a state of limbo as they await clarity on the next steps in the electoral roll revision process.
