Election Commission Investigating Disappearance of Voter Lists from 2002 in 100 Polling Stations in West Bengal, Contemplates Using Data from 2003 for Special Investigation Team Review
In a surprising turn of events, the voters' lists from the 2002 Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal are missing for over 100 polling booths, primarily in traditional strongholds of the Trinamool Congress such as South 24 Parganas, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, and Birbhum[1][2][3][4]. This missing data includes entire booths like the Kulpi Assembly seat in South 24 Parganas, where no voter list is available[2][4].
The 2002 SIR was a major revision of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The 2022 electoral roll revision exercise in West Bengal is intended to use the 2002 list as a baseline. However, the missing or damaged 2002 records have been discovered recently while preparing for a fresh SIR exercise[1][2][3][5].
The absence of these foundational voter lists creates logistical challenges for updating and verifying current electoral rolls. This can lead to delays in the election roll revision process for the imminent state Assembly elections. Voter identification and inclusion may be complicated, potentially disenfranchising voters or causing confusion at polling stations[1][2][4].
The issue has intensified existing tensions between the West Bengal government and the ECI, especially after the Commission suspended four election officials over alleged malpractice related to voter list manipulation[1][3]. The West Bengal state government has informed the ECI that it will not currently comply with the order to suspend the four election officials[6].
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal plans to inform the ECI formally about the missing records and seek permission to use the 2003 draft voters’ list (compiled after the 2002 SIR) as a substitute baseline for the new SIR[1][2][3]. Publication of electoral rolls for all districts is underway gradually, though the revision process is likely to be delayed due to these data issues[2][5]. Training for booth-level officers has begun in anticipation of the revision exercise once baseline data are approved[4][5].
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has summoned the state Chief Secretary Manoj Pant to its headquarters in Delhi. The ECI and the West Bengal state government are still at odds over the Commission's suspension of the four election officials[7].
The four officials were suspended for their involvement in the wrongful addition of names to the electoral rolls of two Assembly constituencies in two districts of West Bengal[8]. In addition, the CBI has arrested 2 CPWD engineers and 2 private persons in a bribery case[9].
References:
- The Hindu
- NDTV
- The Telegraph
- The Indian Express
- Business Standard
- The Times of India
- The Wire
- The Print
- The Economic Times
