Kolkata Voter's Name Found in Bihar Roll

• A Kolkata TMC agent's name was removed from the West Bengal voter list
• His details were found in a 2003 Bihar roll despite no ties to Bihar
• He must now rectify the error to regain his right to vote

An electoral anomaly has left a Kolkata resident stripped of his voting rights, finding his name oddly listed in Bihar. Learn about this voter's bewildering journey and the challenges he faces.

The Electoral Enigma

Krishnendu Mukherjee, a 44-year-old active member of the Trinamool Congress and a booth-level agent in Beleghata, Kolkata, faced a perplexing predicament. His name, previously present in the draft electoral roll and even in the 2002 SIR roll, vanished from the final West Bengal voter list. To his utter shock, a search on the Election Commission's website revealed his details were now registered in the 2003 Bihar electoral roll database. This drastic change left him questioning the integrity of the process, especially as he has no familial or residential ties to Bihar. He suspects a deliberate manipulation, particularly given his active role in politics and his responsibility as a BLA-2 during the enumeration process, where he assisted numerous voters with their form submissions.

Disenfranchised and Doubting

Mukherjee's exclusion from the Bengal roll and inclusion in the Bihar list is not an isolated family incident; only his name was affected among his ten family members. He expressed strong suspicions of a politically motivated conspiracy orchestrated by the BJP, citing his dedication to the Trinamool Congress. The voter's confusion is amplified by the fact that he was never summoned for any hearing regarding his case, yet it was apparently sent for judicial screening, leading to his deletion. This leaves him in a precarious position, unable to cast his vote in his local constituency or officially represent his party at the polling booth on election day. The arduous process of rectifying such an error, which involves removing his name from the Bihar list and re-applying for inclusion in the Bengal roll, presents a significant hurdle.

Councillor's Concern

Alokananda Das, the local councillor for the area, has voiced her concern over this unusual electoral misplacement. She highlighted the importance of understanding the root cause behind such a drastic measure, which has effectively disenfranchised a legitimate voter. The councillor emphasized that an eligible citizen's fundamental right to vote has been compromised, necessitating a thorough investigation into how such an error occurred. The situation underscores the potential vulnerabilities in the electoral process and the need for robust mechanisms to prevent erroneous deletions and inclusions, ensuring that every eligible voter can exercise their democratic right without undue obstruction.