15% of Bengal voters yet to receive enumeration forms as ECI deadline lapses

Kolkata: As the initial deadline set by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the distribution of enumeration forms under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal comes to a close, around 15 per cent of the state’s voters are still awaiting their forms.

According to data from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), over 6.56 crore voters, approximately 85.71 per cent of the total electorate, had received their forms by 8 p.m. on Tuesday. The total number of registered voters in the state, as per the electoral roll dated 27 October, stands at 7,66,37,529.

The delay has left many voters anxious, with no official word yet on whether the deadline will be extended. Sources in the CEO’s office confirmed that discussions are underway with the ECI headquarters in New Delhi to seek further instructions. Among the districts, Kolkata has reported the lowest distribution rate at around 66 per cent, while East Burdwan and East Midnapore have achieved the highest coverage at 97 per cent.

Booth-level officers (BLOs), under the banner of BLO Oikya Mancha, have criticised the timeline, stating they had urged the commission from the outset to allow more time for distribution. A representative of the forum noted that although the official rollout began on 4 November, the initial two days saw sluggish progress due to a shortage of forms, with the pace only picking up from 6 November.

The ECI is yet to announce its next steps, even as the delay raises concerns about the completeness of the voter list ahead of upcoming electoral exercises.

(Inputs from IANS)