As hearings to decide whether lakhs of electors will remain on the rolls begin in West Bengal, the Election Commission of India has allowed only Booth Level Officers (BLOs), their supervisors, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and micro-observers to be present at the proceedings.
The decision, part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise to update electoral rolls, means Booth Level Agents (BLAs) will be kept out of the hearings. Unlike BLOs, who are government officials deployed for the process, BLAs are representatives of political parties who were involved in collecting documents.
Officials and micro-observers, Group ‘B’ central government employees who will help examine enumeration forms and the entries made by BLOs to eliminate errors, will sit at 11 tables in each of the state’s 294 Assembly constituencies for the proceedings. They will hear cases relating to the state’s 32 lakh “unmapped” voters — those whose names, or whose parents’ names, did not figure in the 2002 SIR list — as well as electors flagged for logical discrepancies such as data mismatches or inconsistencies in voter enumeration forms.
According to a senior ECI official, BLAs were excluded to “avoid unnecessary chaos” and ensure transparency.
“Those who are part of the hearing process will upload documents provided by electors, so nothing is hidden. So, there is no need to present BLAs during the hearings,” the official said.
Officials said the number of tables could be increased if required. Around 4,000 micro-observers have been enlisted, with West Bengal Chief Election Officer Manoj Agarwal saying notices would be issued to those who do not comply with orders.
The first phase of hearings will cover the 32 lakh unmapped voters, followed by cases involving logical discrepancies. Sources said cases involving minor discrepancies are expected to be disposed of quickly.
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“Some electors have a mismatch in their father’s name, age or spelling. BLOs have already started asking those voters with such discrepancies to bring their necessary documents, and these cases will be disposed of after verifying them,” a source said.
What the hearings will entail:
— Each Assembly constituency will have 11 hearing tables, comprising one ERO or Assistant ERO, a micro-observer, a BLO and a supervisor. The state will have 3,234 tables, with scope to increase the number if needed.
— Only government premises — such as Block Development Offices, Sub-Divisional Offices or government schools — will be used. Hearings will begin at 10 or 11 am.
— Voters who fail to comply with a notice will be given another hearing before their names are deleted from the rolls.
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— Cases involving ill voters will be considered “sympathetically”. Teams will also make home visits for electors aged over 85.
— All data will be uploaded on the application after the hearings are completed.
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
