Will the SIR Exercise in West Bengal Be Conducted Transparently?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Kolkata, Oct 28 (NationPress) The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal is set to commence on November 4, and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal has promised that it will be carried out with full transparency and no chance for confusion.
“Unlike in Bihar, where the timeframe for SIR was limited, West Bengal has sufficient time for this exercise, ensuring clarity throughout the process,” Agarwal stated during a media briefing.
He elaborated that the increase in voter registrations since 2002 is typical, as numerous names have been transferred. The door-to-door survey will begin on November 4, during which Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit every residence to distribute and collect enumeration forms.
“All data will be uploaded onto the BLO app and will be cross-referenced with the 2002 voter list. SIR will be based on this information. Each voter will receive a unique QR code,” Agarwal explained.
The CEO also noted that voters whose names—or those of their parents—are included in the 2002 electoral roll will not have to provide any additional documentation to keep their names on the updated list.
“If a voter’s name is missing after the SIR process, a notice will be issued, and a hearing will take place. No valid voter will be left out. The entire procedure will be completely transparent,” he assured.
Agarwal emphasized that this is not the first SIR to take place in India and urged the public not to panic about the exercise. “During today’s all-party meeting, I asked all political parties to appoint their Booth Level Agents (BLAs) for the revision process. The BLOs will maintain ongoing communication with the BLAs from all parties to ensure fairness and coordination,” added the CEO.