Photo: ANI
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate alleged that the Election Commission was enabling blatant vote theft through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal. She claimed that the exercise had led to the widespread removal of genuine voters’ names and the inclusion of fake entries without following proper procedures.
She also questioned reports about the deaths of nearly 20 Booth Level Officers across seven states within a short period, suggesting that the authorities were failing to provide clear explanations. Speaking to ANI, Shrinate indicated that the issue was extremely serious and described SIR as a powerful tool being misused to influence electoral outcomes. She further alleged that officials were evading accountability despite repeated questions.
Backing these concerns, senior Congress leader TS Singh Deo voiced support for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stating that her objections should be treated with importance. He argued that the revision exercise was unnecessary and claimed it was being forced upon the country without justification, ANI reported.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while addressing a large gathering in Bangaon, alleged that the Union government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party was creating an atmosphere of conflict even before the election process had formally begun.
The Election Commission of India announced that the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls would be conducted across 12 states and Union Territories, with the final voters’ list slated for release on February 7, 2026. The commission noted that the first phase was completed in Bihar in September ahead of the state’s Assembly elections.
The ECI said the revision exercise would cover Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. It added that printing and training activities took place from October 28 to November 3, followed by the enumeration process from November 4 to December 4.
According to the schedule, draft electoral rolls will be published on December 9, after which claims and objections can be filed from December 9 until January 8, 2026. The Notice Phase (for hearing and verification) will run from December 9 to January 31, 2026, before the final publication of the rolls on February 7, 2026.