In Bengal, SIR likely to begin from first week of Nov, to go on till Feb

In the first month, booth level officers (BLO) will visit households, distribute enumeration forms and verify the names with the 2002 SIR list. The BLOs will also help new voters to fill the enumeration forms.

In the following months, the political parties will submit their proposals for deletion, modification and inclusion in the lists. In the last month of the exercise, the district electoral officers (DEOs) and other senior officers will verify all information and finalise the voter lists, which will be published in the first or second week of February.

Thereafter, the ECI will give seven days to the public to approach them for any modification, after which the final voter lists will be published.

A senior ECI officer said, “It is not possible to complete the SIR before the Bengal Assembly elections (in 2026), if the process does not begin in November. So, we have no option but to start the exercise in November itself.”

Meanwhile, the CEO is reportedly facing difficulty in deploying BLOs for the SIR rollout as at least 600 of them are learnt to have expressed their unwillingness to participate in the exercise, as they reportedly are concerned for their safety. So far, the CEO’s office has summoned at least 600 BLOs over this. To allay their fears, senior poll officials have decided to appoint assistant BLOs to assist the BLOs.

“The BLOs are feeling unsafe as they will have to go to different areas with supporters of political parties. If assistant BLOs accompany them, they will feel safer. Adequate security arrangements will also be there for their safety,” a senior official said.

Besides, the CEO has been reportedly informed about alleged irregularities in the appointment of more than 4,000 BLOs.

The ECI is also planning to open help desks at the district and block level electoral offices.

Each help desk will have 10-13 personnel who will provide necessary information and suggestions to voters.

According to officials, the mapping and matching process with the 2002 voter lists has been almost completed.

The work stalled in some North Bengal districts due to recent floods. “Now the situation in North Bengal is normal. The process of matching and mapping has started there again. We are expecting the work will be completed within a week,” said a senior election official.