93% of deleted Bengal voters have won appeals, EC tells SC

NEW DELHI: Around 93% of those whose cases have been decided so far over not being able to vote in the West Bengal polls this year because of doubts raised about their eligibility during Election Commission's SIR drive have won their appeals and have been included in the electoral roll. However, 8,649 of 1.2 lakh lost their appeal and will be deleted.The numbers, mentioned in an annexure to an affidavit filed by EC in Supreme Court, showed that 1,13,943 could satisfy the tribunals that the commission's decision to exclude them from the roll was incorrect, and this may intensify criticism of the poll panel.Curiously, while the affidavit - filed to counter the claim of TMC and its MP, Derek O'Brien, that the exclusions cost them 31 assembly seats - puts the number of cases decided until Sept 16 at 1,26,194, the annexure stated that 1,22,592 were decided by the 24…