Ensure ‘no eligible voter is left out’: West Bengal CEO stresses accuracy of electoral rolls in state
Agarwal along with Special Roll Observer Subrata Gupta and other officials on Saturday convened a meeting with 12 newly appointed IAS officers as Electoral Roll Observers (EROs) and directed the observers to visit each district under their charge at least three times during the revision period.
Booth Level Officers check and collect enumeration forms as voters arrive to submit them for the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. (PTI Photo)
Amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal on Saturday emphasized the need for accurate electoral rolls and said that “no eligible voter is left out and no ineligible voter is included in the electoral rolls.”
Agarwal along with Special Roll Observer Subrata Gupta and other officials on Saturday convened a meeting with 12 newly appointed IAS officers as Electoral Roll Observers (EROs) and directed the observers to visit each district under their charge at least three times during the revision period.
They will oversee electoral roll preparation, assisting district election officers (DEOs) and electoral registration officers.
Gupta, a retired IAS officer, was appointed as the Special Roll Observer for the SIR exercise by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday.
According to the sources in the CEO office, Agarwal and Gupta mentioned the responsibilities of the observers during the SIR process, including receiving enumeration and hearing claims and objections.
“No eligible voter to be left out and no ineligible voter to be entered in the electoral Roll,” they said during the meeting.
The observers were instructed to meet with MPs, MLAs, and representatives of recognized political parties to address grievances and seek their involvement in the revision process. They were also asked to submit detailed reports to the CEO after each visit, highlighting issues requiring urgent remedial action.
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“Detailed report on all the points of the enclosed checklist should be furnished to CEO of your state with a copy endorsed to the Commission after each visit (A note sheet pointing out the specific issues which require urgent remedial/corrective action may also be attached along with the report),” the order stated.
The ECI has ordered all EROs that they must visit each district under their charge at least three times during the entire SIR period. In their first visit, during the period of receipt of claims and objections/ Notice Phase; the second visit, during the period of disposal of claims and objections by the EROs and the third visit at the time of verification of the working copy by the BLOs/printing of supplements, and final publication of the roll.
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
