Kolkata, 9 August (H.S.) Confusion persists in West Bengal over the dates for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, as no clear guidelines have yet been issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI).However, sources indicate that the office of the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has already informed the Commission that it is fully prepared for the SIR.

On Friday, the state government wrote to CEO Manoj Agrawal seeking clarification.In her letter, State Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty questioned the accuracy of reports about the SIR preparations, stating that the state government had not received any official communication from the CEO’s office.She also urged that no situation of confusion be allowed to arise.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has already made it clear that no valid voter in Bengal will be removed from the electoral roll under the pretext of the SIR.Administrative circles believe that Nabanna (the state secretariat) is also not currently in favour of initiating the SIR.

CEO Manoj Agrawal said that the ECI had indicated during the implementation of the SIR in Bihar that it would be enforced nationwide.He added that the Commission had written to states on July 5, instructing them to begin preparations for the exercise.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey