The Election Commission has added nearly seven lakh new voters to the electoral rolls of West Bengal, just days before the state’s assembly elections. However, the Commission has not disclosed the age or gender breakdown of this additional electorate.
A senior poll official informed PTI that around 3.22 lakh of these new voters will cast their ballots in the first phase, while nearly 3.88 lakh will vote in the second phase. The poll body has not specified how many of these new entrants are first-time voters, who have just turned 18.
"The aggregate figures have been released in line with norms. Detailed data is maintained separately and may be shared later if required," the official stated.
The total electorate in the state now stands at 6,82,51,008, a number that may rise if further names are added following tribunal orders.
West Bengal is scheduled to go to the polls in two phases, on April 23 and 29, with the vote count set for May 4.
Last week, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to issue a supplementary revised electoral roll, incorporating voters whose appeals against the deletion of their names are upheld by the appellate tribunals in West Bengal.
To handle the process, the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court has set up 19 tribunals, led by former high court chief justices and judges, to decide on appeals against name deletions from the voters' list.
Additionally, around 700 judicial officers from West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand are overseeing the ongoing Special Inquiry and Revision (SIR) process, which is addressing over 60 lakh objections from those excluded from the voter list.