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Bengal Voter Hearings Race Against Time: 15 Lakh Cases in 3 Days

With the deadline for hearings on the draft voters' list expiring on February 7, West Bengal election officials must complete sessions for approximately 15 lakh voters in just three days. The Election Commission is operating 6,500 hearing centres and expresses confidence in meeting the schedule. The final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on February 14, after which the full Election Commission bench will visit the state. Following this assessment, the dates for the crucial Assembly elections, potentially held in a maximum of two phases, will be announced.

Key Points: Bengal Voter List Hearings Deadline: 15 Lakh Cases in 3 Days

  • 15 lakh voter hearings in 3 days
  • Feb 7 deadline for hearings
  • Final voters' list on Feb 14
  • Election dates to be announced soon
2 min read

Bengal SIR: Hearings to be completed for around 15 lakh voters in 3 days before deadline ends on Feb 7

West Bengal rushes to complete hearings for 15 lakh voters before Feb 7 deadline. Final electoral roll due Feb 14, ahead of crucial Assembly polls.

"This is not at all a herculean task - CEO office insider"

Kolkata, Feb 5

With just three days left for the deadline for completion of the hearing sessions on claims and objections on the draft voters' list in West Bengal to expire, hearings for around 15 lakh voters will have to be completed in these three days to stick to the schedule. The deadline for completion of the hearing session is February 7, and the final voters' list is scheduled to be published on February 14.

Going by the trend of daily hearings so far, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is confident of meeting the deadline.

"Currently, 6,500 hearing centres are operating where such hearing sessions are being conducted. This means that each hearing centre will have to handle roughly around 76 hearings a day for the next three days, for the process to be completed. This is not at all a herculean task," said an insider from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal.

This also means that the hearing sessions will be complete well before the next hearing on the SIR at the three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court on February 9.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also expected to argue the matter in front of the three-judge Bench as she had done on Wednesday.

The hearing session of the SIR exercise in West Bengal started on December 27 last year. Though the initial process was slow, later the exercise gained momentum following an increase in the number of officials at each hearing centre and also a proportionate increase in the number of hearing centres.

After the publication of the final voters' list on February 14, the full Bench of the ECI will come to West Bengal to take stock of the situation. Soon after that, the dates for the crucial Assembly elections will be announced by the Commission.

The CEO's office had already given a suggestion to the ECI for completing the election process in a maximum of two phases, as opposed to seven to eight phases in the last few elections in the state.

It is expected that the elections will be over by the end of April, and by the first week of May, the new state Cabinet will be formed.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
15 lakh voters in 3 days? That's nearly 5 lakh per day. Even with 6500 centres, it sounds hectic for the officials. I hope the quality of hearings isn't compromised for the sake of speed. The final list must be error-free.
A
Aman W
Good to see the process gaining momentum. The suggestion for a maximum of two-phase election is excellent. The long, drawn-out phases in previous elections were exhausting for everyone. Let's hope for a smooth and quick process this time.
S
Sarah B
As an observer, it's impressive to see the scale of India's electoral machinery. Completing hearings for millions so quickly is a logistical feat. The eyes of the nation are on Bengal for this crucial election.
M
Meera T
The most important thing is that every genuine voter gets their name on the list and no fake entries remain. My uncle had to visit the centre twice last month for a correction. Hope the final publication on Feb 14 clears all doubts.
V
Vikram M
With the Supreme Court hearing on Feb 9, there's definitely pressure to wrap this up. Hoping for a transparent process. Bengal elections are always high-stakes. Jai Hind!

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