• Source:JND
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The Election Commission of India (ECI) has extended the deadline for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by one week to February 14 in 12 states. In a three-page order issued today, the Election Commission announced an extension of one week for officials to release the draft voter list. According to the revised schedule, the enumeration period will conclude on December 11, instead of the earlier deadline of December 4.

The move comes amid reports from several districts of an excessive workload on BLOs (Booth Level Officers), with some states like West Bengal even witnessing deaths and suicides among them, intensifying the problem. In this context, the Election Commission acknowledged the necessity of granting extra time to the states to ensure the voter list revision is carried out thoroughly and without disruption.

In Which States Is SIR Going On?

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is currently going on in the following states:

- Andaman and Nicobar Islands

- Chhattisgarh

- Goa

- Gujarat

- Kerala

- Lakshadweep

- Madhya Pradesh

- Puducherry

- Rajasthan

- Tamil Nadu

- Uttar Pradesh

- West Bengal

The SIR has already been completed in the state of Bihar before the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 and is now progressing in these states.

Opposition Stays Mum On Revised Schedule Of SIR

So far, none of the political parties in the opposition have reacted to the revised schedule of the ECI. However, a source from West Bengal was quoted by IANS as saying that the extension by the ECI is just an 'eyewash' for the common public. "Any official statement in the matter will either be given by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or our party's general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee," the official added.

Opposition Leaders Meet CEC In Delhi

Earlier, the leaders from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and other members of the opposition met the Chief Election Commissioner of India (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar and requested him to reschedule the SIR process. They also urged the EC to plan the SIR exercise more effectively, citing the immense pressure on BLOs tasked with door-to-door enumeration.

The opposition has been accusing the ECI of conducting SIR exercise hurriedly at the behest of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Trinamool Congress has been the most vocal against the ECI on this issue.

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