On the last day that enumeration forms were collected in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal held a meeting with 25 enforcement agencies and their officials to analyse poll preparedness ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. While regular checks and balances continue throughout the year, the focus will be on anomalies related to cash, liquor, arms, and other goods pertaining specifically to elections, including at points bordering neighbouring states and Bangladesh.
A special observer was gheraoed in Falta in South 24 Parganas district on Thursday while visiting the area to assess modalities related to the voter revision exercise. However, Agarwal said there was no formal complaint as the special observer was accompanied by security personnel including the SP of the area.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during her public rally in Nadia district on the same day, said she did not fill out the enumeration form. The CEO said that, as per section 4D of the SIR norms, the CEO has the power to flag or mark prominent personalities, including well-known politicians, sportsmen, and celebrities. What this essentially means is that these names will appear in the draft SIR list, and the important personalities will have to submit relevant documents later to prove a progeny link or submit documents under the list of 11 if there is no connection with the 2002 SIR list.
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As for Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, who said on Thursday he signed the enumeration form in West Bengal, the EC says a constituency is transferable.
A total of 58,08,232 enumeration forms were collected until 4pm on Thursday, of which 12,01,462 are untraceable, 19,93,087 have permanently shifted, 1,37,475 are duplicate voters who have their names in more than one voter list in the country, and 24,18,699 voters have been declared dead. 59.18 per cent of voters have proven their progeny mapping, while 38.32 per cent are self-mapped voters.
The draft voter list will be released on December 16 for the 76 million electorate.
Booth Level Officers (BLO) will continue to do their regular work. BLOs who collected and submitted enumeration forms will continue to do their work, even though the BLO app will not permit uploading new forms. However, the BLO app is accessible for them to make necessary changes if required.
