West Bengal’s voter registration drive faces uncertainty with the Election Commission still awaiting critical data on 8,505 Group-B officers appointed for the SIR exercise. The Mamata Banerjee-led government’s reluctance to share details has escalated friction, threatening procedural timelines.
CEO office informants confirmed the EC’s demands stemmed from verification lapses in the officer roster. Hearings on draft list discrepancies conclude February 14, barring most from active roles.
A narrow window for document handling from February 14-21 exists, contingent on prompt disclosures. Scrutiny uncovered misfits: upper clerks, typists, and a retiree among the ranks. Targeted queries to state bodies aim to resolve these issues.
Final rolls emerge February 28, paving way for the EC’s Kolkata inspection starting February 29. This high-level review could trigger assembly poll announcements, positioning the data delay at the heart of Bengal’s electoral future.