The Chief Electoral Officer’s office in West Bengal officially began its training program on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), District Election Officers (DEOs), and other key personnel. These officials are tasked with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state’s electoral roll. Simultaneously, Left party leaders gathered outside the CEO’s Kolkata office to protest the SIR process, highlighting their serious concerns.
An official from the CEO West Bengal office confirmed that the comprehensive SIR training session was conducted via video conference, involving all DEOs, EROs, AEROs, and SLMTs, with senior officials from the Election Commission of India (ECI) also participating in the crucial discussions.
In a parallel effort to support voters, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has also launched a National Voter Helpline, complemented by 36 state and district-level helplines, specifically designed to handle inquiries and resolve grievances for Indian citizens.
Further enhancing accessibility, the ECI introduced a ‘Book-a-Call with BLO’ service, allowing voters to easily schedule calls with their local Block Level Officers (BLOs) to get their questions answered.
During an all-party meeting at the CEO’s Kolkata office on Tuesday, political heavyweights like the Trinamool Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) voiced strong objections. They expressed apprehension that the ‘hurried’ nature of the SIR process could unfairly exclude legitimate voters from the electoral list.
Responding to these critical concerns, West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, provided assurance, stating unequivocally that no eligible voter would be removed from the electoral rolls during this revision.
As of October 28, 2025, West Bengal boasts an electorate of 7,66,37,529. The CEO’s office reported an average of approximately 950 voters or 200 to 300 families assigned to each polling station. To facilitate the revision, 80,681 Block Level Officers (BLOs) across the state are scheduled to conduct door-to-door enumeration, distributing forms between November 4 and December 4.
Key Political Figures Stage Protests
On Wednesday, a coalition of Left Front parties, including the CPI(M), Revolutionary Socialist Party, Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist), and Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation, converged outside the CEO West Bengal office in Kolkata. The demonstration was led by veteran CPI(M) politician Biman Basu.
Following the protests, Mr. Basu emphasized the need for transparency: ‘This process must be transparent, free from party politics. Common citizens should not shoulder the entire burden; Block Level Officers (BLOs) must also assume their responsibilities.’
Adding to the chorus of dissent, Congress State President Subhankar Sarkar expressed serious reservations about the SIR process, stating that it is ‘raising panic among the people of Bengal.’
Mr. Sarkar elaborated on his fears, saying, ‘When people are already grappling with worries about their livelihoods, government authorities have a responsibility to prioritize the well-being of the common citizen. Instead, they are now being subjected to questions about their citizenship, which creates a dire situation. This is deeply concerning, and we are genuinely apprehensive about Bengal’s future.’
He also questioned the accelerated timeline for the current SIR process, contrasting it with the 2002 revision which spanned two years. ‘Why instill fear in people just before the 2026 elections?’ Mr. Sarkar demanded.