Election Commission says West Bengal officials filed appeals on voter roll changes

In a filing to the Supreme Court, the Election Commission disclosed that appeals against the inclusion of voters in West Bengal’s special intensive revision were filed by officials of the chief electoral officer’s office, acting under the Representation of the People Act, 1950. The revision, carried out before the April Assembly elections, initially excluded more than 61 lakh voters and later removed about 91 lakh names, representing roughly 11.9% of the state's electorate.

Tribunals allowed appeals, and a total of 38.2 lakh were lodged, with 22.2 lakh coming from voters whose names had been deleted and 16.1 lakh challenging inclusions. The poll panel noted that those whose inclusions were appealed were already listed and entitled to vote in the April election. The disclosure responds to petitions alleging unilateral decisions by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during the revision process.