West Bengal Publishes Draft Voters List Under Special Intensive Revision Exercise

By John Pranay (Editor)

The Election Commission of India published the draft electoral rolls of West Bengal on December 16, 2025, as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The move comes ahead of the 294-member West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled for early next year. Approximately 1.36 crore voters will be called for hearings, with a possibility of the number reducing. The draft rolls are available on the official website of the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, and the voter portal of the EC.

The Election Commission of India initiated the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal, which involved the publication of draft electoral rolls. The exercise aimed to update the voter lists and ensure that the electoral rolls are accurate and up-to-date. The Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, stated that the state has completed the SIR exercise within the stipulated timeframe. The draft rolls have been made available on the official website of the CEO, West Bengal, and the voter portal of the EC. The list of deleted voters is also available on the commission's portal link.

The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) accused the government of dividing people and using the electoral roll revision exercise, SIR, to distract and deflect from its failures. The party's Rajya Sabha member, Derek O' Brien, made the accusations during a discussion on electoral reforms.

• December 16, 2025: The Election Commission of India published the draft electoral rolls of West Bengal as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

• December 16, 2025: The Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, stated that around 1.36 crore voters will be called for hearings as part of the SIR exercise.

• February 7, 2026: The hearing and verification phase of the SIR exercise is scheduled to conclude.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise is a periodic exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to update the electoral rolls and ensure that they are accurate and up-to-date. The exercise involves the publication of draft electoral rolls, which are then made available to the public for verification. The SIR exercise is crucial in ensuring that the electoral rolls are free from errors and discrepancies.

Previous instances of electoral roll revisions have led to the deletion of thousands of voters whose names were found to be incorrect or duplicate. The exercise has also led to the inclusion of new voters who were previously not registered.

The publication of the draft electoral rolls of West Bengal is a significant development in the run-up to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly elections. The exercise is crucial in ensuring that the electoral rolls are accurate and up-to-date, which is essential for free and fair elections. The SIR exercise also provides an opportunity for citizens to verify their names on the electoral rolls and make any necessary corrections.

The exercise has also highlighted the importance of electoral reforms in ensuring that the electoral rolls are free from errors and discrepancies. The TMC's accusations against the government of using the SIR exercise to distract and deflect from its failures highlight the political significance of the exercise.

The SIR exercise has raised concerns about the potential risks associated with the deletion of voters whose names were found to be incorrect or duplicate. The exercise has also highlighted the importance of ensuring that the electoral rolls are accurate and up-to-date to prevent any potential risks or disputes.

Regulatory risks associated with the SIR exercise include the potential for errors or discrepancies in the electoral rolls, which could lead to disputes or challenges to the election results. Financial risks include the costs associated with the exercise, including the hiring of additional electoral roll officers and the provision of resources for the verification process.

Physical risks associated with the SIR exercise include the potential for violence or unrest if citizens are not satisfied with the outcome of the exercise.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal highlights the importance of electoral reforms in ensuring that the electoral rolls are accurate and up-to-date. The exercise also underscores the need for citizens to verify their names on the electoral rolls and make any necessary corrections.

Crucially, this exercise overlooks the broader issue of electoral reforms in India, which has been a long-standing concern. The SIR exercise is a periodic exercise, and its success depends on the implementation of more comprehensive electoral reforms.

This suggests that the Election Commission of India and the government of India need to work together to implement more comprehensive electoral reforms, including the use of technology to update the electoral rolls and ensure that they are accurate and up-to-date.

Overall, the medium-term sentiment around this story is Neutral.

1. Bengal SIR Highlights: Around 1.36 Crore Voters To Be Called For SIR Hearings in West Bengal, Says CEO — https://www.timesnownews.com/india/west-bengal-sir-live-updates-eci-gov-in-election-commission-of-india-draft-voter-list-2025-2026-ceo-west-bengal-latest-news-liveblog-153300190

2. West Bengal SIR: Over 58 lakh deletions in draft roll; Kolkata North records highest percentage of deletions — https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ec-publishes-list-of-voters-deleted-from-draft-electoral-rolls-in-bengal-under-sir-2026/article70401624.ece

Methodology: This analysis combines real-time data aggregation from manually selected global sources with advanced AI synthesis, engineered to provide neutral and data-driven insights.