Secure Voter List Guaranteed in West Bengal
West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Agarwal, has made it clear that during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, no legitimate voter’s name will be deleted. This assurance comes amid concerns from various political parties about the potential impact of the revision process on voters.
Agarwal described the SIR process as both secure and systematic, emphasizing that it aims to create a voter list consisting of 100% legitimate names. He mentioned that there are currently 7,66,37,529 voters in the state and urged calm among citizens, assuring them that the process is well-organized.
Each voter who submits an enumeration form will receive a unique QR code. This code will be used by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to enter and verify the details of the applicants. Agarwal stated, “There should not be any panic,” as the Election Commission of India (ECI) has already provided detailed guidelines for the SIR.
Concerns have been raised regarding the safety of BLOs during this process. Agarwal reassured that the state government has been tasked with providing necessary protection for these officers. He highlighted that law and order is a state subject, and the government would ensure adequate security measures are in place.
When questioned about the feasibility of completing the SIR within a month, Agarwal expressed confidence in the timeline. He explained that each booth has around 900 to 1,000 voters, and since most BLOs are local residents, they can easily reach families within the stipulated time frame.
Political reactions have been mixed. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has described the SIR as a "pre-exercise to implement CAA-NRC," warning against potential targeting of vulnerable voters. State minister Firhad Hakim stated that protests would continue if any genuine voter's name is removed.
On the other hand, the opposition parties have raised objections based on various grounds. CPI(M) leader Samik Lahiri questioned the practicality of the timeline and emphasized that the SIR should focus on adding genuine voters while removing fake entries. Similarly, BJP leader Sanjay Singh welcomed the SIR but urged action against alleged illegal entries in the voter list.
Agarwal and ECI officials have committed to keeping the public updated as the SIR progresses. They have appealed to political parties and citizens to cooperate and avoid panic during this crucial verification process.
