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ECI releases two voter lists after appellate tribunals in Bengal ahead of Phase I polls
Ahead of Phase I polling in West Bengal, the ECI released two lists: voters cleared by court-appointed appellate tribunals and voters deleted for lack of clearance. The tribunals were set up in March under Supreme Court orders and had recently adjudicated a large number of cases under the Special Intensive Revision. The phase I polling is planned for April 23, with further polling and results scheduled in the following days.
Why It Matters
The release of updated voter lists and the ongoing adjudication affect who can vote in Bengal’s election, reflecting judicial intervention in the voter revision process and potential implications for turnout.
Timeline
8 Events
Results declared for West Bengal assembly elections
May 4, 2026
The results for the West Bengal assembly elections will be declared on May 4.
Polling for remaining seats scheduled for April 29
April 29, 2026
Polling for the remaining 142 seats will be held on April 29.
First phase polling scheduled for 152 seats
April 23, 2026
On Thursday, 152 of West Bengal's 294 assembly constituencies will go to the polls in the first phase.
ECI publishes two lists: added and deleted voters
April 22, 2026
The Election Commission of India published two lists for the first phase: voters included in the electoral roll after court-appointed appellate tribunals cleared them, and voters deleted for the lack of clearance.
Election officials to share updated voter lists with parties and officers
April 21, 2026
Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal said political parties, candidates, returning officers, and district election officers will be given copies of the updated voter list. Electors whose cases are cleared by the tribunals will be informed through their booth-level officers.
Supreme Court orders inclusion of cleared voters two days before polling
April 2026
The Supreme Court last week ordered the inclusion of cleared voters in the electoral roll at least two days before polling, relaxing the earlier freeze on voter lists amid the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
ECI constitutes 19 appellate tribunals for SIR-related voter appeals
March 10, 2026
The Election Commission of India constituted 19 appellate tribunals to hear appeals against orders of judicial officers in cases involving voters marked 'under adjudication' as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The tribunals were staffed with retired judges to hear these appeals, following Supreme Court orders.
Court-appointed tribunals delete over 2.7 million voters after adjudication
March 2026
The court-appointed judicial officers deleted over 2.7 million voters after adjudication.