Bengal Voters List: 29 Lakh Names Added After Deadline Drama
Supplementary electoral roll released after delays, affecting millions.
Top Summary
- What happened: The Election Commission finally released the first supplementary electoral roll for Bengal after multiple deadline revisions.
- Why it matters: The Supreme Court ordered the release, and the list impacts voters whose names were under adjudication.
- What changes: Around 29 lakh names were added, with additions and deletions marked. Voters can check their status online and at designated offices.
- Who is affected: Approximately 60 lakh Bengal voters whose names were initially under adjudication are impacted.
Supplementary Voter List Finally Released
Bengal's voters under adjudication waited anxiously on Monday for the first supplementary electoral roll. The Election Commission (EC) repeatedly revised the release deadline.
The list, containing around 29 lakh names, was finally uploaded at 11:45 PM. The Supreme Court will hear the case related to the electoral roll on Tuesday.
Day-Long Confusion and Official Statements
The release followed a day of confusion. Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal addressed reporters in the evening.
"I don’t know how many names have been approved or rejected at this moment."
Around 60 lakh names on Bengal’s final voters’ list were initially placed under adjudication. 705 judges were tasked with scrutinizing documents.
Approval and Rejection Process
"Till today, about 29 lakh pending cases have been disposed of... We hope the supplementary list will be published by 9-9.30 pm today. It takes 4-6 hours to prepare the list,"
said Agarwal.
Approved names will be marked "Name Addition," and rejected names as "Name Deletion."
Accessing the Voter List
The supplementary list can be accessed:
- EC website: https://voters.eci.gov.in/
- CEO website: https://ceowestbengal.wb.gov.in/
- ECINET app
Hard copies will be available at DEOs, DMs, SDOs, and BDOs. The list will also be displayed at polling stations on Tuesday.
Appellate Tribunals and Future Appeals
19 appellate tribunals, headed by former high court judges, will hear appeals on inclusion or exclusion of names.
When asked about filing appeals, Agarwal stated,
"They can’t apply from tomorrow. Calcutta High Court will issue a notification. Following that, appeals can be made to the tribunals."
The tribunals require office space and infrastructure. The state government is working to provide suitable locations.
Law and Order Situation
Regarding law and order, Agarwal stated,
"Law and order is a state subject... The DMs and SPs are also alert."
He added,
"The role of police is good. They have taken prompt action in places where trouble erupted."
What to Watch Next
The Calcutta High Court will issue a notification regarding the appeal process. The establishment of functional appellate tribunals will be crucial for addressing voter grievances related to the supplementary list.