SIR tribunal updates voter rolls: 1,468 names added, 6 deleted as uncertainty persists before polling

Ahead of the second phase of voting in West Bengal, the Election Commission has released a fresh supplementary voter list based on tribunal-cleared applications. The update comes after Supreme Court directions requiring publication of all settled cases up to two days before polling. The latest list includes 1,468 newly added names and only 6 deletions, while earlier lists had already altered voter rolls in phases.

The process is being carried out under the Special Intensive Revision framework, where more than 30 lakh applications were submitted for verification. Around 27 lakh names had been under scrutiny, and the tribunal—comprising retired judges—has been reviewing cases. While 657 cases were resolved earlier, the latest round of verification has again expanded the list, though the Commission has not clarified the total number of cases fully disposed of.

In the first supplementary list released before phase one, 139 names were added and 8 removed. The newly published second list follows the same legal requirement, with the Election Commission stating that voters whose names are included will receive voter slips and will be eligible to vote in constituencies going to polls on Wednesday. However, uncertainty remains over the large number of pending or partially resolved applications.

The ongoing revision has also raised concerns about transparency and voting rights, as questions continue over how many applicants will ultimately be included or excluded. While authorities maintain that the process is being conducted as per judicial directions, the repeated revisions have left several voters unsure about their final status even on the eve of polling.