Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, Nov 17: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday issued a public clarification stating that neither the Commission nor any state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) ever asks voters to share one-time passwords (OTPs) for any work related to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories, including West Bengal.

A senior official in the West Bengal CEO’s office said the clarification followed multiple complaints that unidentified individuals were seeking OTPs from voters while falsely claiming it was required for the SIR process. Booth-level officers have already been warning residents during door-to-door visits, but the ECI has now formally addressed the issue as a new method to deceive and extort voters.

The enumeration stage of the SIR began on November 4, during which BLOs distribute two copies of the form and later collect one back from each household. The three-phase revision will continue until March next year, using the 2022 voters’ list as the baseline.

In West Bengal, the process has sparked political friction: Trinamool Congress alleges the SIR is a BJP-backed attempt to impose NRC, while the BJP claims TMC is resisting the exercise to prevent the removal of alleged illegal voters.