The Election Commission of India’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal has taken a dramatic turn, with over 2,200 polling booths placed under special scrutiny and a high-profile case of voter identity confusion in Nadia district stirring public debate. As the state gears up for its next assembly elections, the process meant to ensure a clean and accurate voter list has instead exposed both procedural anomalies and the deep anxieties of ordinary citizens about their fundamental right to vote.
On December 2, 2025, the Election Commission (EC) announced that 2,208 booths across West Bengal would be subject to detailed review. The reason? Every single enumeration form returned from these booths reportedly showed no dead, duplicate, or untraceable voters—a statistical oddity that set off alarm bells within the commission. According to Mathrubhumi, South 24 Parganas leads the tally with 760 booths under scrutiny, followed by Purulia (228), Murshidabad (226), Howrah (94), and even Kolkata, which has one such booth flagged. In a state with more than 78,000 polling booths spread over 294 assembly constituencies, the numbers might seem small, but the implications are anything but.
“We have asked for detailed reports from officials of these districts. Apart from the absence of dead voters, these booths do not have any duplicate or untraceable voters. These booths are under the scanner,” an EC source told Mathrubhumi. The commission’s move is part of a broader effort to reinforce public confidence in the electoral roll, especially as the state heads into a politically charged season.
The SIR, launched on November 4, 2025, has been an ambitious exercise. As of December 1, the 27th day of the revision, an astonishing 76,562,486 enumeration forms had been distributed—covering 99.90% of the total electorate. Of these, 73,857,023 forms, or 96.37%, had already been digitally uploaded by booth-level officers (BLOs), according to official figures. Yet, the suspiciously perfect records from certain booths have prompted deeper investigation.
In response to concerns from citizens and ground-level officials about tight deadlines, the EC has extended the SIR schedule in nine states and three Union Territories. The distribution of forms will now continue until December 11 (extended from December 4), with the draft electoral rolls set for publication on December 16 (previously December 9), and the final voters’ list due on February 14, 2026 (moved from February 7). The commission hopes these extensions will ensure that no eligible voter is left behind and that all grievances can be addressed thoroughly.
But even as the EC doubles down on accuracy, the process has laid bare some troubling stories. In Nadia district, a case of mistaken—or perhaps duplicated—identity has left one young voter and his family in a state of panic. Animesh Biswas, a resident of Haldarpara in Krishnaganj constituency, has found himself effectively locked out of the electoral process due to a bizarre clash of identities.
According to ETV Bharat, Animesh first registered to vote in 2018 and exercised his franchise in 2019. But in 2021, his name was inexplicably removed from the rolls. Despite submitting fresh applications and even attending an official hearing, his name was not restored. When the SIR began, Animesh did not receive the required form. On inquiry, his local BLO informed him that his EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) number was already in use—by another Animesh Biswas, living in Mathpara, Ranaghat North-East Assembly constituency, with the same father’s name and EPIC number.
“I can’t figure out how the EPIC number is the same. I told the BLO there to show me the house in which my EPIC number is mentioned. In response, the BLO told me that there is a problem in showing me the house. So he cannot show me the house of the other Animesh Biswas,” Animesh recounted to ETV Bharat. Feeling helpless and frustrated, he returned home, but his anxiety only grew. “But now I don’t know what to do. I want the SIR form along with my EPIC number to be given to me immediately because I don’t want anyone else to use my EPIC number.”
Neighbors and local officials have rallied behind Animesh, expressing both sympathy and outrage. Sanjay Biswas, a neighbor, said, “All their ancestors lived here in India. They still do. His grandfather worked in the police. His father, Biswajit Biswas, also worked in the police. His son, Animesh Biswas, voted even after registering his name. He has the card. But how did his EPIC go to another person?” Sanjay added, “The administration should look into the negligence for which this duplication happened. Even though Animesh has all his documents, how did his SIR form go somewhere else? The family has been in panic since this incident. We want the person who illegally filled up the SIR form using his EPIC number to be identified and action taken against him.”
Local government officials have echoed these concerns. Vikas Das, Deputy Chief of Shibnibas Gram Panchayat, commented, “His grandfather and father used to work in the police. Even after the son of that house’s name was included in the voter’s list, someone else filled up the SIR form using his EPIC number, this needs to be investigated. We want Animesh Biswas to be able to use his own EPIC number and have his name included in the voter list. So that he is not deprived of voting as an Indian citizen. The Election Commission should look into this seriously.”
Political voices have also weighed in, with BJP leader Chanchal Chakraborty blaming the ruling Trinamool Congress and its alleged network of brokers for such irregularities. “This is why the SIR was needed. Without the SIR, thousands of such incidents would not have come to light. These are basically the handiwork of Trinamool leaders and brokers who illegally added names to the voter list by faking documents,” Chakraborty said, as reported by ETV Bharat. The accusation underscores the deep mistrust and political rivalry that color the state’s electoral landscape.
For the Election Commission, these revelations are both a challenge and a call to action. The scrutiny of 2,208 booths is not just a technical exercise; it is a test of the state’s ability to guarantee the integrity of its most basic democratic process. The extension of deadlines and the promise of thorough investigation offer some reassurance, but for citizens like Animesh Biswas, the stakes are deeply personal. The right to vote, after all, is more than a bureaucratic detail—it’s the bedrock of citizenship.
As West Bengal prepares for its next assembly elections, all eyes will be on the EC’s efforts to clean up the rolls and restore public trust. The coming weeks will reveal whether these interventions are enough to resolve the anomalies and ensure that every eligible voter, regardless of circumstance, can exercise their franchise freely and fairly.
