The Election Commission of India (ECI) has declared that there will be no obstacles in carrying out the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. This announcement was made on Monday, October 27, 2025, as the poll panel revealed the commencement of the second phase of the SIR in 12 states and Union Territories between November and February.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar emphasized that states are constitutionally bound to provide the necessary personnel to facilitate the electoral roll clean-up. Kumar's statement came in response to a question regarding the potential for unrest in West Bengal if the SIR exercise were to be conducted. He firmly stated, "There is no hurdle".
The ECI is undertaking this initiative to ensure that the electoral rolls are transparent and error-free. The second phase of the SIR will encompass 12 states and Union Territories, including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
The SIR process involves Booth Level Officers (BLOs) conducting door-to-door enumerations to add new voters and remove ineligible voters from the list. The ECI aims to ensure that no eligible elector is excluded and no ineligible elector is included in the poll rolls. The enumeration process is scheduled to begin on November 4 and will continue for a month. Draft electoral rolls are slated for publication on December 9, with the final electoral rolls expected on February 7, 2026.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar clarified that individuals whose names, or their parents' names, appear on the 2003 voter list will not be required to provide additional documents. For others, Aadhar will be used as identity proof.
The CPI(M) has urged that the voter list in West Bengal be published transparently following the SIR. Assembly elections in West Bengal are due next year, along with Assam, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls starting October 28, and planned to conclude by February 7, 2026. The SIR held in Bihar recently was Phase 1, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar announced.
