Kolkata, Feb 10: In a significant update for West Bengal’s electoral preparations, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that the final voter list for the state will now be published on February 28. This revised timeline comes after careful deliberations to ensure thorough verification processes.
The ECI has scheduled the completion of hearings on claims and objections to the draft voter list by February 14. Following this, a detailed scrutiny of documents will take place until February 21. Rationalization of polling stations is set to wrap up by February 25, with health and safety checks at these centers finalized by February 27.
This decision was finalized during a key meeting in New Delhi between West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal and the full bench of the Election Commission. The extension was necessitated by a Supreme Court directive led by Chief Justice Suryakant, which mandated an additional week beyond February 14 for election registration officers to complete their reviews and make fair decisions.
Previously, hearings were slated to end on February 7, with the final list due on February 14. The adjustments aim to uphold the integrity of the voter rolls ahead of the crucial state assembly elections later this year.
Post-publication, the ECI’s full bench will conduct an on-ground review in West Bengal, paving the way for the announcement of poll dates. This move underscores the Commission’s commitment to transparent and inclusive electoral processes, ensuring every eligible voter is accurately represented.