The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) demanding urgent intervention in the Second Phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The party has alleged that undue influence is being exerted to distort the ongoing revision exercise, which is critical for preparing an accurate and fair final electoral roll ahead of the state’s upcoming elections.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, in a detailed letter to the poll body, stressed that Phase 2 of the SIR is “the most crucial stage of the entire process” as it determines whether the electoral roll reflects the actual voters of the state without manipulation or political interference. He warned that the neutrality and credibility of the voter list may be compromised if immediate corrective steps are not taken.
The SIR exercise has already become a flashpoint between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly criticised the revision process, alleging that it aims to disenfranchise genuine voters in the state. The BJP, meanwhile, has accused the ruling establishment of orchestrating targeted interference to influence the SIR outcome.
Adhikari said the BJP is receiving “serious and consistent reports” of external pressure being applied to distort the scrutiny and hearing process, raising concerns over political influence at the ground level. He argued that such interference poses a direct threat to the transparency and neutrality that the SIR is meant to uphold.
To safeguard the integrity of the electoral roll, the BJP has urged the Election Commission to implement two immediate measures: Supervision of the entire phase by Micro Observers drawn from Central Government employees and 100 percent CCTV coverage of all scrutiny and hearing proceedings, with mandatory preservation of the footage until the end of the SIR exercise.
According to Adhikari, these measures are necessary to prevent manipulation, maintain transparency, and ensure that no external influence is allowed to affect the preparation of the electoral roll.
New concerns over enumeration forms have intensified the BJP’s apprehensions. ECI data shows a dramatic fall in the number of polling booths reporting full submission of forms: 2,208 booths on Monday, 480 booths on Tuesday, and only 29 booths by Wednesday evening.
Finding these sudden fluctuations “unrealistic,” especially since no uncollectible forms were reported, the Election Commission has asked District Election Officers for a detailed explanation of the abrupt drops.
The BJP has further alleged that politically motivated Block Development Officers (BDOs) are pressuring Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to share OTPs. Adhikari claims this could be used to fraudulently include the names of deceased individuals, shifted voters, and illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the revised rolls.
Amid complaints from multiple political parties, not just the BJP, the Election Commission has intensified its scrutiny of the process. Special Roll Observer Subrata Gupta has begun consultations with political parties, civil organisations, and members of the public to address grievances related to the SIR.
The BJP has urged the Commission to act swiftly, warning that without immediate intervention, the entire voter list revision could be “fundamentally compromised.”
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