Electoral Roll Controversy in West Bengal: Individuals Stripped of Voting Rights
Issues Faced by Voters in Kolkata and Surrounding Areas
Kolkata/Ranaghat – A significant number of individuals in West Bengal are facing unprecedented challenges regarding their voting rights due to recent deletions from the electoral rolls. Among those affected is Subarna Bala Poddar, a 97-year-old refugee from undivided Bengal who has never missed a vote since 1947. Despite her consistent voting history, her name has now been removed from the rolls, leaving her unaware of the situation. Poddar expressed her determination to vote, stating, “If health permits, I will vote,” while questioning the validity of her omission given her possession of a voter card.
Her family, residing in Narkeldanga, Kolkata, confirmed her prior use of home voting facilities. They reported that despite submitting various identification documents including her voter ID, Aadhaar card, bank passbook, and widow pension records, her claim was rejected due to a spelling error in the voter roll from 2002, which incorrectly spelled her name as “Swarna Bala.” Attempts to reapply for inclusion via Form 6 also did not succeed, resulting in a situation where only four out of eight family members will be able to vote, leaving two grandsons without voting rights.
In a local TMC polling booth, an agent noted a significant decline in registered voters, with the number dropping from 1,326 to 1,092.
Retired Teacher’s Struggles with Voter Registration
In Hooghly district, another individual facing a similar predicament is S Asraful Haque, a 72-year-old retired teacher. Haque, who has served as a presiding officer in twelve elections, has also found his name struck off the electoral rolls, while the names of his family members remain intact. He provided several documents, including a passport, land records, PAN card, Aadhaar card, and bank statements as proof of his residency and voting rights. Despite his extensive documentation showing his family’s ties to the area, he was called for a hearing without receiving a clear reason for his deletion.
Haque expressed his disbelief, questioning how a person could be removed from the voter rolls when possessing legitimate identification and historical land records dating back to 1944. “I have documents to prove my right to vote, including a record from the 1956 voter list that shows my parents’ names,” he stated. He has since appealed the deletion at a tribunal, seeking to rectify the situation.
Tragic Consequences of Voter Roll Revisions
In a tragic incident in Nadia’s Ranaghat, Jibankrishna Biswas passed away after collapsing while waiting in line to submit an appeal regarding the removal of his and his daughter’s names from the electoral rolls. His family attributed his death to the stress caused by the ongoing electoral roll revisions. Following this incident, members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) organized demonstrations, placing blame on the Central government for his death. Biswas’s daughter asserted, “Politics took his life,” highlighting the emotional toll the electoral process has taken on her family.
Throughout various districts, numerous families have reported experiencing similar hearings where they received no clear explanations for their deletions. Insufficient documentation and sudden eliminations from the electoral roll have become common occurrences, transforming the right to vote into an arduous journey filled with wait times and bureaucratic hurdles, leaving many without any certainty of being able to cast their votes in upcoming elections.
Follow US
https://www.facebook.com/charchaexpress
https://www.youtube.com/@charcha-express
https://www.instagram.com/charcha.express/
Contents
Issues Faced by Voters in Kolkata and Surrounding AreasKolkata/Ranaghat – A significant number of individuals in West Bengal are facing unprecedented challenges regarding their voting rights due to recent deletions from the electoral rolls. Among those affected is Subarna Bala Poddar, a 97-year-old refugee from undivided Bengal who has never missed a vote since 1947. Despite her consistent voting history, her name has now been removed from the rolls, leaving her unaware of the situation. Poddar expressed her determination to vote, stating, “If health permits, I will vote,” while questioning the validity of her omission given her possession of a voter card.Her family, residing in Narkeldanga, Kolkata, confirmed her prior use of home voting facilities. They reported that despite submitting various identification documents including her voter ID, Aadhaar card, bank passbook, and widow pension records, her claim was rejected due to a spelling error in the voter roll from 2002, which incorrectly spelled her name as “Swarna Bala.” Attempts to reapply for inclusion via Form 6 also did not succeed, resulting in a situation where only four out of eight family members will be able to vote, leaving two grandsons without voting rights.In a local TMC polling booth, an agent noted a significant decline in registered voters, with the number dropping from 1,326 to 1,092.Retired Teacher’s Struggles with Voter RegistrationIn Hooghly district, another individual facing a similar predicament is S Asraful Haque, a 72-year-old retired teacher. Haque, who has served as a presiding officer in twelve elections, has also found his name struck off the electoral rolls, while the names of his family members remain intact. He provided several documents, including a passport, land records, PAN card, Aadhaar card, and bank statements as proof of his residency and voting rights. Despite his extensive documentation showing his family’s ties to the area, he was called for a hearing without receiving a clear reason for his deletion.Haque expressed his disbelief, questioning how a person could be removed from the voter rolls when possessing legitimate identification and historical land records dating back to 1944. “I have documents to prove my right to vote, including a record from the 1956 voter list that shows my parents’ names,” he stated. He has since appealed the deletion at a tribunal, seeking to rectify the situation.Tragic Consequences of Voter Roll RevisionsIn a tragic incident in Nadia’s Ranaghat, Jibankrishna Biswas passed away after collapsing while waiting in line to submit an appeal regarding the removal of his and his daughter’s names from the electoral rolls. His family attributed his death to the stress caused by the ongoing electoral roll revisions. Following this incident, members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) organized demonstrations, placing blame on the Central government for his death. Biswas’s daughter asserted, “Politics took his life,” highlighting the emotional toll the electoral process has taken on her family.Throughout various districts, numerous families have reported experiencing similar hearings where they received no clear explanations for their deletions. Insufficient documentation and sudden eliminations from the electoral roll have become common occurrences, transforming the right to vote into an arduous journey filled with wait times and bureaucratic hurdles, leaving many without any certainty of being able to cast their votes in upcoming elections.
