ECI Publishes Post-SIR Rolls in Bengal; 1.18 Lakh Deleted in Bankura
ECI Publishes Post-SIR Rolls in Bengal; 1.18 Lakh Deleted in Bankura
The Election Commission starts phased publication of post-SIR rolls in West Bengal, with Bankura recording a net deletion of about 1.18 lakh voters as the rolls go online.
The Election Commission of India has begun phased publication of post-SIR electoral rolls in West Bengal, rolling out updates district by district. Hard copies of the revised rolls are already on display in places like Bankura and Cooch Behar, even as online lists on EC portals and the mobile app remain pending in some areas.
In Bankura, the electorate stood at 30,33,830 when the SIR exercise began on November 4 last year. The draft rolls published on December 16 reduced that figure to 29,01,009. After further hearings and scrutiny, about 4,000 more names were deleted, while a number of new Form 6 applications for inclusion were approved after verification. The final Bankura roll is now estimated at around 29,15,000, indicating a net deletion of roughly 1.18 lakh names since the start of SIR. Officials noted that deletions primarily reflect deaths, migration, duplication, and untraceability, with additions processed after due verification.
The publication is being carried out in phases across districts, with supplementary lists expected in the coming days. In Bengal, 530 judicial officers have been deputed to complete the SIR work. The broader context shows the draft rolls shrinking from about 7.66 crore to 7.08 crore in the initial phase, with over 58 lakh names deleted during the first stage. Officials say the process aims to improve accuracy ahead of elections, even as online access continues to roll out district by district.
