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EC issues third supplementary voter list in Bengal at night; exact addition and deletion numbers unclear
The Election Commission released the first supplementary list around midnight on March 23, followed by the second list at a similar time on March 27.
Election Commission sources indicate a plan to settle all pending cases before the first phase of polling, scheduled for April 23. (File Photo)
Within 24 hours of releasing the second supplementary list for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal, the Election Commission issued a third supplementary list late on Saturday night.
While the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office confirmed the development, it has not yet released a press note, similar to the first and second lists. Consequently, the exact number of pending cases addressed in this list—specifically how many names were deleted and how many were added to the final voter list—remains unclear.
According to sources in the CEO’s office, 38 lakh pending cases have been resolved so far. The first supplementary list was released around midnight on March 23, followed by the second list at a similar time on March 27. Notably, the third list was released earlier, shortly after 10 pm.
Election Commission sources indicate a plan to settle all pending cases before the first phase of polling. Voting for the first phase in the state is scheduled for April 23.
Meanwhile, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has intensified its offensive against the Election Commission, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleging a “nexus” between the poll body and the BJP.
The TMC has labelled the deletion of over 63 lakh names as a deliberate attempt at voter suppression, specifically targeting the SIR as opaque and politically motivated. Adding to the friction, the party described the “under adjudication” status of over 60 lakh additional voters, including high-profile figures like ministers Shashi Panja and Ghulam Rabbani, as a “humiliating” tactic designed to disenfranchise legitimate citizens just weeks before the April 23 polls.
In response, the BJP, which rules the Centre, dismissed these allegations as “hooliganism” and a sign of the TMC’s desperation. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and other BJP leaders maintained that the revision is a necessary administrative exercise to “detect and delete” illegal entries and ensure the integrity of the electoral process. The BJP continues to back the Election Commission’s efforts, framing the cleanup of the voter rolls as a vital step toward a free and fair 2026 Assembly Election.
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TMC has decided to provide financial assistance for people whose names have been deleted and plans to fight the matter legally.
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