The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, is set to meet the full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday. The purpose of the meeting is to determine the new date for the publication of the final voters’ list in the state, marking the conclusion of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR). This meeting follows a directive from the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, instructing the ECI to allow Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) an additional week beyond February 14 to finalize the list.
Agarwal, who arrived in Delhi late Monday night, will engage in discussions with the ECI’s full bench regarding various aspects. These discussions will include finalizing the date for the publication of the voters’ list and planning for the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal scheduled for this year. The focus will be on determining the number of phases for the polls and assessing the need for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) for election security.
The CEO’s office has recommended a single-phase polling for the state, although the ultimate decision rests with the Election Commission. The previous deadline for resolving claims and objections to the draft voters’ list was February 7, with the final list originally slated for release on February 14. However, due to the Supreme Court’s intervention, the new publication date is expected to be no earlier than February 21, ensuring the list’s availability by the end of the month.
Following the publication of the final voters’ list, the Commission’s full Bench will visit West Bengal to evaluate the situation on the ground. Subsequently, the dates for the crucial Assembly elections in the state will be officially announced.
