The Election Commission (EC) on Monday night published the first supplementary voters’ list in poll-bound West Bengal, marking a key milestone in the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) process ordered under Supreme Court supervision.

The list was uploaded to the EC and West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) websites around 11.55 pm, following a day of delays and shifting timelines. 

The supplementary roll includes the names of voters whose eligibility has been adjudicated by judicial officers deputed as per the Supreme Court directives. However, the EC has not disclosed how many voters were retained or deleted from the rolls, leaving lakhs of electors in uncertainty.

29 lakh cases adjudicated, over 60 lakh under review

According to Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal, approximately 29 lakh cases have been adjudicated so far by judicial officers.

These cases are part of the 60,06,675 electors, about 8.5% of West Bengal’s electorate, whose names were marked as “under adjudication” in the final electoral roll published on February 28.

That final roll recorded a total of 7.04 crore electors, but those flagged for review remain ineligible to vote until their names are cleared and included in supplementary lists.

Despite the release of the first supplementary list, the EC has not specified how many of the adjudicated 29 lakh names have been included or excluded. Agarwal said, “We don’t know how many names have been deleted or how many names will be published.”

Also read: West Bengal Election 2026: 1st supplementary voter list out today; Steps to check status 

Sources indicated that the supplementary list may be divided into two parts, one for eligible voters and another for those deemed ineligible, but official confirmation on numbers remains pending.

District-wise data shows that the highest number of pending cases was in Murshidabad (11 lakh), followed by Malda (8.28 lakh), South 24 Parganas (5.22 lakh), and North 24 Parganas (5 lakh). In contrast, districts like Jhargram (6,682 cases) and Kalimpong (6,790) had the lowest pendency, with all cases reportedly adjudicated.

Delays, technical glitches and voter anxiety

The release of the list came after multiple missed deadlines throughout Monday. Initially expected at 6 pm, the timeline was pushed to 8 pm, then to between 9 pm and 9.30 pm, before finally being uploaded just minutes before midnight.

Officials attributed the delay to logistical issues, including the centralised server located in New Delhi. The adjudicated lists were transmitted from judicial officers to the CEO’s office in Kolkata via the Calcutta High Court, and then forwarded to Nirvachan Sadan in Delhi for publication.

Even after the upload, many voters reported difficulty accessing the list due to heavy traffic or technical glitches. Several electors remained glued to the EC website through the night, unable to confirm whether their names had been included.

With no clarity on deletions, those whose names were under adjudication continue to remain in a “zone of uncertainty,” awaiting further updates.

Appeals mechanism and tribunal formation pending

The EC has stated that voters excluded from the supplementary list will have the option to appeal before tribunals to be set up under the supervision of the Calcutta High Court. Around 19 tribunals, headed by retired judges, are expected to hear such appeals.

However, the timeline for the formation and functioning of these tribunals remains unclear. Agarwal said the state government will need to provide infrastructure, after which the High Court will approve arrangements before tribunals can be operationalised across all 23 districts.

So far, 705 judicial officers have been engaged in the adjudication process, which began after approximately 1.25 crore notices were issued to voters citing discrepancies in their enumeration forms.

Political tensions and security concerns rise

The publication of the supplementary list has intensified political tensions in the state ahead of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026. Opposition parties have warned of agitation and legal action if genuine voters are excluded.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Election Commission of bias, alleging it is “working as an agent of the BJP.” She has also termed the adjudication process and supplementary lists as “dubious,” vowing support for voters she claims are being disenfranchised.

The CPM has called it “unconstitutional” to hold elections if even a single genuine voter is excluded, while Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has urged the state government to consider approaching the Supreme Court.

Amid fears of unrest, the EC and state administration have ramped up security measures. Meetings have been held between election officials, police authorities, and central forces to ensure law and order during and after the publication of the list.

The Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court also convened an emergency meeting to review security for judicial officers involved in the process.

With millions of voters still awaiting clarity and the appeals process yet to begin, the release of the first supplementary list marks only the beginning of a complex and closely watched electoral exercise in West Bengal.