Election Commission Adds 139 Names After Tribunal Orders Before First Phase Voting

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday released a supplementary list of voters cleared by tribunals, enabling a section of previously excluded electors to participate in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on Thursday.

A total of 139 voters have been added back to the electoral rolls following tribunal orders. These inclusions come from roughly 650 cases that were adjudicated, though the ECI has not disclosed the full number of applicants or the overall acceptance rate. With these additions, the electorate size for the first phase now stands at 3,60,77,310.

Despite publishing the updated lists, the Commission has not provided a consolidated figure of how many names were restored or remain excluded. Instead, voters have been directed to verify their status individually through the ECI’s official website.

To access the information, voters must select their Assembly constituency and booth number under the add/delete section of the portal. Booths where cases are still pending will not display any names. Alternatively, individuals can check their status using their EPIC (Elector Photo Identity Card) number.

Officials clarified that some individuals who approached tribunals had already been included in the final electoral roll but sought verification due to discrepancies or concerns. “Such voters are already eligible to vote and face no restrictions,” an official said. The Commission has so far published two separate lists, one containing names restored after tribunal rulings, and another listing those who continue to remain excluded.

These developments follow directions issued by the Supreme Court of India, which invoked its special powers under Article 142 of the Constitution. The court had ordered that voters declared eligible by tribunals up to two days before polling must be allowed to cast their votes. It also directed the ECI to publish the relevant lists by April 21, ahead of polling in 152 constituencies in the first phase.

In compliance, the Commission released the initial list earlier in the day and is expected to issue a consolidated electoral roll incorporating all additions by Wednesday evening. This updated roll will be used for voting in the first phase. The voters included in the supplementary list were among those removed during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They were subsequently given the option to approach designated tribunals to challenge their exclusion.

Looking ahead, tribunal proceedings will continue for the second phase of polling, scheduled for April 29 across 142 constituencies. Officials indicated that another updated list of eligible voters will be published on April 27.