In a significant development for the upcoming elections in West Bengal, CEO Manoj Agarwal has announced that the first supplementary list of disputed voters may be published today. This follows the final electoral roll, which had over sixty lakh names pending in the adjudication list.
As of now, 29 lakh adjudications have been completed out of the 60 lakh cases that are currently under judicial review. The total number of voters in West Bengal stands at 7,04,59,284, according to the final electoral roll published on February 28.
In a move to ensure the integrity of the electoral process, the Election Commission has removed 73 Returning Officers (ROs) in West Bengal. This decision underscores the Commission’s commitment to conducting free and fair elections.
Polling in West Bengal is scheduled for April 23 and 29, with vote counting planned for May 4. Notably, elections will be held in two phases, a reduction from the previous seven to eight phases, marking a significant change in the electoral process.
“Elections are being held in two phases in West Bengal after many years,” Agarwal stated, emphasizing the importance of this shift. He further added, “The Election Commission is committed to conducting free and fair elections,” reflecting the administration’s focus on transparency and accountability.
The SIR exercise in Bengal was announced on October 27 last year, aiming to streamline the electoral process. Before this exercise, the electorate stood at 7,66,37,529, but the draft roll saw the deletion of 58,20,899 names.
Observers are keenly watching these developments, as the changes could significantly impact voter turnout and the overall electoral landscape in the state. Officials expect that the upcoming elections will set a new precedent for future electoral processes in West Bengal.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact implications of these changes, but the urgency of the situation is clear as the state prepares for one of its most critical electoral events in recent history.
