Kolkata, October 24 (Udaipur Kiran) — The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to begin the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal and four other states from the first week of November. The process is expected to be completed by the end of January, ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections next year.
A senior official from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, confirmed the development on Friday. The decision was discussed during a meeting of the Chief Electoral Officers of various states held in New Delhi on Thursday, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi also in attendance.
The Assembly elections are scheduled next year in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Kerala. The ECI’s full bench held separate meetings with the CEOs of these states to review preparations and directed that all activities under the SIR process must be completed by January. Since elections are likely to be held by April, the Commission has instructed officials at all levels — including District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Assistant EROs, and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) — to receive proper training and assignments in advance.
Sources said the SIR process will be fully digital this time, supported by new mobile applications designed to make the voter list updating process more transparent and efficient.
During the meeting, the West Bengal CEO raised concerns about the safety of BLOs, who are often school teachers, amid reports of political tension in certain areas. Some BLOs expressed apprehension about fieldwork due to local political pressures.
The Election Commission clarified that the role of BLOs is limited to distributing and collecting voter-related forms and verifying voter details during door-to-door visits. The final authority to approve or remove names from the electoral roll will rest with the EROs, who may conduct site inspections if required.
The Commission also instructed that if any BLO faces undue pressure from political groups, they should immediately inform the ECI. The Commission assured that necessary police action and protective measures will be taken as per law.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
