Kolkata

A controversy has surfaced in West Bengal ahead of the conclusion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, following allegations that unauthorised forms are being circulated to include so-called “unmapped voters” who failed to submit mandatory documents during enumeration.

Reports of the distribution of such forms in parts of Murshidabad and South 24 Parganas just days before the end of the hearing process prompted the Election Commission of India to seek reports from district authorities. The hearing process under SIR is scheduled to end on Saturday, after which no fresh applications for inclusion in the voter list will be accepted.

Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal said the poll panel had not issued any such form. “The commission has not authorised any such document. Reports have been sought from the district election officers,” he said.

According to a section of booth-level officers (BLOs), the disputed form asks “unmapped voters” to submit a declaration stating that neither they nor their family members possess a 2002 linkage document or any of the 13 documents prescribed by the EC, while claiming long-term residence in the area. The form also reportedly requires certification by at least five valid voters of the concerned booth, along with their EPIC numbers and signatures.

The number of “unmapped voters” in West Bengal currently stands at around 32 lakh, officials said. The alleged last-minute attempt to include such voters without documentary proof—based only on certification by others—has raised serious questions.

When the issue was flagged, Agarwal reiterated that no such decision had been taken by the commission. Sources in the poll body said information about the circulation of these forms had been received from Jadavpur and Hariharpara, with some BLOs claiming the documents were supplied by electoral registration officers (EROs).

Meanwhile, roll observers at Magrahat in South 24 Parganas were reportedly taken aback during verification of enumeration forms. It also came to the commission’s notice that Mohanpur Gram Panchayat in Magrahat-II block allegedly issued a “blood relation certificate” to certain residents—despite no such document being recognised by the EC.

An official said that during an SIR hearing, seven individuals were shown as children of one Atiar Munsi. When summoned over a “logical discrepancy”, they produced the panchayat-issued certificate, which does not figure in the EC’s approved list of documents.

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The ERO concerned has been directed to conduct an inquiry and initiate action in accordance with the law, sources added.