3 min readKolkataUpdated: Dec 23, 2025 05:13 PM IST
As part of the second phase, the ECI is deploying micro roll observers to scrutinise enumeration forms and the entries made by Booth Level Officers (BLOs). (File Photo)
Hearings for the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal will begin on December 27, with notices already issued to around 10 lakh electors, officials of the Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Tuesday.
Senior ECI officials Principal Secretary S B Joshi and Deputy Secretary Abhinab Agarwal have arrived in the state to oversee the SIR process. They will also be present at a training programme for micro roll observers scheduled to begin on December 24 at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata.
As part of the second phase, the ECI is deploying micro roll observers to scrutinise enumeration forms and the entries made by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), with the aim of making the revision process more error-free. The move follows a proposal by West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal, which was accepted by the Commission.
According to officials, there will be 11 hearing tables per Assembly constituency, taking the total to 3,234 tables across the state’s 294 constituencies. The number may be increased depending on requirements, and the deployment of micro observers could cross 4,000.
The ECI has also developed dedicated software to streamline the hearing process. Under the system, each elector will have a separate account containing stored information and scanned documents submitted during the hearing.
Around 4,000 micro observers have already been recruited and will be trained along with Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) at Nazrul Mancha. “Micro observers are going to be the eyes of the Election Commission, so proper training is required,” an ECI official said.
According to ECI sources, hearings will initially focus on electors whose records do not map with the 2002 Special Intensive Revision data. Subsequently, notices will be issued to electors with logical discrepancies in their records.
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The number of electors with logical discrepancies stands at 1.36 crore, while those with no mapping are pegged at 31 lakh, taking the total under scrutiny to 1.67 crore. The Commission plans to begin hearings with the 31 lakh electors whose records have no mapping.
On December 16, the ECI published the draft electoral roll after the completion of the first phase of SIR. The number of voters dropped from 7.66 crore to 7.08 crore, following the deletion of over 58 lakh names.
According to official data, 58,08,232 enumeration forms were not uploaded on the BLO application. These include 24,18,699 deceased voters, 12,01,462 untraceable voters, 19,93,087 voters who had permanently shifted, 1,37,475 voters enrolled at multiple places, and 57,509 others.
Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain.
Experience
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express.
Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news.
Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions.
Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal.
Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla.
Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent.
Education
Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting.
Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University.
Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More
