Breaking News: Election Commission Unveils Revised Schedule for 12 States/UTs-Discover Key Dates Now!
The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Sunday a revised timeline for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, impacting 12 states, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. This adjustment extends the enumeration deadline to December 11, extending the initial date of December 4.
The states and Union Territories currently participating in the SIR include Uttar Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. This comprehensive exercise aims to ensure accurate and updated voter rolls ahead of future elections.
In West Bengal, the SIR has become a focal point of political contention. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has raised alarms about the process, alleging bias, administrative pressure, and significant lapses in the management of voter rolls. During a recent meeting, TMC officials condemned the ECI’s explanations as “outright lies,” exacerbating tensions between the party and the Commission. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly expressed her “serious concerns” about the SIR, urging the ECI to take immediate action.
Allegations have surfaced claiming that 41 individuals, including Booth Level Officers (BLOs), have died since the SIR commenced, some reportedly by suicide. The BJP has dismissed these claims as “baseless and politically motivated,” reflecting the heightened political stakes surrounding the process.
Adding fuel to the fire, reports of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants returning home through the international border in West Bengal’s Hakimpur have intensified the political narrative around infiltration. This reverse migration, while numerically small, has become a potent issue in the ongoing conflict between the BJP and TMC, particularly as it relates to the SIR and upcoming assembly elections in 2026.
Since the beginning of the SIR, security personnel and locals in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas, have noticed a rising number of undocumented Bangladeshi nationals attempting to return to their country. Border Security Force (BSF) officials indicate that approximately 150 to 200 individuals are crossing back each day, with an estimated 1,700 having returned by November 20 after undergoing verification of their details.
As the political atmosphere in West Bengal becomes increasingly charged, this reverse migration at the Hakimpur border could significantly influence the narrative leading up to the 2026 elections, just as the SIR process itself is poised to do. With both the TMC and BJP leveraging these developments to bolster their positions, the intersection of electoral rolls and immigration narratives has created a complex tableau that will likely dominate West Bengal’s political landscape in the coming months.
As stakeholders closely monitor these evolving dynamics, the ECI’s role in navigating this contentious landscape remains pivotal, underscoring the importance of transparent and fair electoral processes in a vibrant democracy.
Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/sir-exercise-election-commission-announces-revised-schedule-for-12-states-uts-check-dates-here-11764485099564.html
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Publish Date: 2025-11-30 12:24:00
