Kolkata, 19 January (H.S.): The Election Commission of India has dismissed the controversy surrounding the summoning of prominent individuals for hearings during the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll in West Bengal, terming the criticism as baseless.
The Commission clarified that calling voters for hearings in connection with claims and objections is an established procedural requirement and that no discrimination or selective targeting is involved in the process.
The issue gained political traction after Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s grandnephew, Chandra Kumar Bose, was summoned for a hearing, prompting questions over why a member of the Bose family was issued a notice. Responding to the criticism, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal stated that Bose was treated no differently from any other voter.
In an official clarification, the Chief Electoral Officer’s office explained that Chandra Kumar Bose was called for the hearing because a mandatory column related to linking family relationships had been left blank in his enumeration form. As per the Election Commission of India’s notification, voters whose forms contain incomplete or missing details are required to appear for hearings.
The Chief Electoral Officer’s office further noted that several other well-known individuals had also received similar notices for the same reason. These include actor-turned-politician and Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Deepak Adhikari, former Rajya Sabha member and former Mohun Bagan Football Club president Swapan Sadhan Bose, his son and former Rajya Sabha MP Srinjay Bose, and Indian cricket team fast bowler Mohammed Shami.
Sources in the Chief Electoral Officer’s office said that in all these cases, the column related to family linkage was left incomplete in the enumeration forms. They added that had the individuals sought clarification earlier, the issue would not have escalated into a political controversy.
It may be noted that Monday marks the last date for submitting claims and objections to the draft electoral roll. However, the hearing process will continue until February 7. Following this, the full bench of the Election Commission is expected to visit West Bengal, after which the dates for the Assembly elections are likely to be announced.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
