Kolkata: The Election Commission (EC) announced on Thursday, April 2, 2026, that it has successfully disposed of approximately 52 lakh voter cases under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal. With the publication of the eighth supplementary voter list, the commission expressed confidence that the remaining 8 lakh cases will be resolved by April 7. This expedited timeline is critical as the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections is scheduled for April 23, with the nomination deadline for that phase closing on April 6. The adjudication process, overseen by over 500 judicial officers, follows a mandate from the Calcutta High Court to ensure an accurate electoral roll before it is officially frozen for the polls.
The scale of the verification exercise has been immense, with over 60 lakh names placed under scrutiny following the publication of the final draft rolls in February. The Supreme Court has been closely monitoring the process, recently extending deadlines and directing the state government to provide full logistical support to the judicial officers. Despite the progress, the exercise has faced significant hurdles, including technical glitches and a “complete breakdown of law and order” in certain pockets. For those whose names do not appear in the latest supplementary list, the EC has established 19 Appellate Tribunals—headed by former judges—to hear final appeals.
Security crisis in Malda
The security of officials has emerged as a major flashpoint following a violent incident in Malda’s Kaliachak on Wednesday night. Seven judicial officers, including three women, were gheraoed and held hostage for several hours by a mob of protesters demanding the inclusion of deleted names. The Supreme Court took “serious notice” of the episode on Thursday, terming it a deplorable and “calculated” attack intended to demoralize the judiciary. The top court has issued show-cause notices to the West Bengal Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP) for their “inaction” and has authorized the deployment of central forces to protect all officers engaged in the SIR process.
Political and Legal Landscape
The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition BJP remain locked in a bitter war of words over the voter list. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has alleged a “conspiracy” to disenfranchise nearly 1.2 crore voters, while the BJP has accused the state administration of orchestrating the unrest in Malda to disrupt the federal election machinery. Amidst this polarization, the Election Commission is under pressure to maintain a neutral and safe environment for the final phase of adjudication. The EC has confirmed that it may seek a CBI or NIA probe into the Malda violence if the state’s internal report fails to justify the lapse in security.
