Will there be SIR in Bengal Without Mamata’s Approval?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Mamata Banerjee's approval is deemed essential for the SIR in West Bengal.
- Preparatory work for the SIR is already in place.
- The last SIR occurred in 2002.
- Voter mapping and matching processes are underway.
- Additional documentation is required for voters not listed in 2022.
Kolkata, Oct 15 (NationPress) Actress-turned-politician and Deputy Leader of the Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha, Shatabdi Roy, asserted on Wednesday that no Special Intensive Revision (SIR) will take place in West Bengal without the explicit approval of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
"The Chief Minister has already stated that there will be no SIR in West Bengal. She stands by her word," remarked Roy.
The groundwork for the Special Intensive Revision is currently in progress within the state.
Roy, a four-time representative from the Birbhum constituency in the Lok Sabha, did not elaborate on how a Chief Minister or state government could halt the SIR, considering this is a routine procedure managed by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The last SIR in West Bengal was conducted in 2002. At present, the task of “mapping & matching” the names of voters from the current list against those from 2002 is nearing completion.
The ECI has instructed district magistrates, who also serve as district electoral officers, and additional district magistrates (elections) to finalize the “mapping and matching” process within this week, after which the SIR notification will be issued.
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal clarified last week that voters whose names appeared in the 2022 list, during the last SIR, will automatically be recognized as valid voters.
Individuals not listed in the 2022 records must provide documentation as proof of citizenship, as required by the commission.
However, relying solely on an AADHAR card will not suffice; the voter must present one of the other documents specified by the commission.