Bihar SIR Storm Spills Over: Election Commission Pushes Bengal Into Urgent Roll Revision Drive
Image via The Indian Express
Kolkata, August 28, 2025 – The Election Commission of India (ECI) has moved into action in West Bengal. This comes just as Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls triggered a political storm. The EC has now cleared the decks for Bengal’s roll revision and has issued strict orders to officials. The timing is crucial. Political heat is rising in Bihar and spilling into Bengal. The EC wants Bengal’s officers to “get their act together” before the situation gets messy.
Letters Sent to Bengal Officials
On August 26 and 27, West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manoj Agarwal, wrote back-to-back letters. The first letter went to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant. It asked the state government to fill vacancies of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) immediately. Without them, the roll revision exercise could not run smoothly.
The second letter went to all District Election Officers (DEOs). It instructed them to prepare for the upcoming voter list revision. Agarwal reminded officers that they must follow rules strictly. He said EROs and AEROs should not share their login credentials. Duties cannot be delegated. Only permanent data entry operators from the Home and Hill Affairs Department or other Group C and above staff could be assigned work. These steps were taken to avoid mistakes and allegations of manipulation.
Why EC is in a Hurry
The letters were not routine. They were a clear signal that the EC wanted Bengal to be ready before September. An all-party meeting is already fixed for August 29. There, the final roadmap of Bengal’s roll revision will be discussed. Officials believe that if all goes well, Bengal’s exercise could begin in the first week of September.
This urgency is directly linked to the chaos in Bihar. The SIR exercise in Bihar, launched in June 2025, led to a huge backlash. Opposition parties alleged mass voter deletions. They claimed more than 65 lakh names were removed from Bihar’s rolls without proper verification. The matter even reached the Supreme Court, which asked the EC to provide details of deletions and to ensure re-enrollment options were open with valid IDs.
Bihar SIR Row: A Political Storm
The Bihar SIR row shook national politics. Rahul Gandhi and opposition leaders accused the EC of “vote theft.” Protests broke out across Bihar. The controversy centered on allegations that marginalized groups and certain voter communities were targeted. The EC defended the move, saying the revision was needed to remove fake voters. But critics compared it to an NRC-like drive.
The Supreme Court’s intervention only added to the spotlight. It forced the EC to be more transparent. The court ordered that people could re-enroll using Aadhaar, Voter ID, or ration cards. Even then, protests continued. For the opposition, Bihar became a rallying point. For the EC, it became a credibility test.
Bengal Now in the Spotlight
With Bengal’s roll revision around the corner, the political stakes are high. West Bengal is already known for high voter turnout and sharp political battles. The ruling TMC fears that the SIR method could be misused to delete genuine voters. Party leaders have openly criticized the EC’s push. On the other side, the BJP supports the exercise, claiming that Bengal’s rolls have lakhs of fake voters. Smaller parties like SUCI have also announced protests, calling the revision a tool of voter suppression.
The EC, aware of these tensions, is trying to ensure that Bengal does not repeat Bihar’s mistakes. By tightening procedures and filling vacancies, it wants to avoid allegations of bias.
What EC is Planning in Bengal
- Filling Staff Gaps: The EC has told the state government to urgently fill ERO and AERO posts. Without officers, voter list corrections cannot proceed.
- Training and Rules: Officers will get clear training. No sharing of passwords, no delegation of sensitive duties. This is to keep data safe.
- Booth Level Focus: Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will be given extra responsibility. Reports suggest incentives of ₹2,000 per drive may be offered.
- Technology Watch: Only approved staff will handle the software and data entries. This will reduce the risk of tampering.
- Timeline: The target is to roll out the revision in early September, after the August 29 all-party meeting.
Why Bengal Roll Revision Matters Nationally
The Bengal roll revision is not just about one state. It has national political importance. Elections in Bengal always draw attention. The state has a history of high political violence, strong party clashes, and disputes over voter lists. If the Bihar SIR controversy spreads to Bengal, the EC could face more pressure.
- For the TMC, the revision is a threat. They fear mass deletion of voters who traditionally support them.
- For the BJP, it is a chance. The party wants to clean the rolls and push for free and fair polls.
- For the EC, Bengal is a test. After Bihar, its credibility is on the line.
Opposition Campaigns Brewing
Already, political campaigns have started. Activist groups in Bengal are planning protests under slogans like “No SIR, No Vote”. They argue that the exercise is unconstitutional. The TMC is preparing to raise the issue in the upcoming all-party meeting. Meanwhile, the BJP is demanding stricter checks, claiming Bengal has one of the highest numbers of duplicate voters in India.
Even the common voter is confused. Many are not sure whether they need to re-enroll. Rumors are spreading on social media, adding to the tension.
Key Takeaways So Far
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of CEO’s letters | August 26 and 27, 2025 |
| Main Orders | Fill vacant ERO/AERO posts, avoid sharing IDs, tighten supervision |
| Next Step | All-party meeting on August 29, revision likely to start in September |
| Backdrop | Bihar SIR controversy with 65 lakh voter deletions |
| Political Divide | TMC against revision, BJP supports it |
| Public Reaction | Confusion, protests, and fear of voter suppression |