Massive Deletions Emerge
West Bengal's electoral landscape is in flux following a rigorous adjudication process, which has resulted in the removal of over 27 lakh names from voter
lists, as confirmed by the Election Commission of India. This significant figure emerges from a pool of over 60 lakh names that were initially flagged for review after being left out of the electoral rolls. The Indian Express has engaged with ten individuals, spanning diverse professions and backgrounds, including migrant laborers, legal professionals, college employees, and homemakers, all of whom participated in the recent 2024 Lok Sabha polls. These individuals now face the unsettling prospect of being disenfranchised. Many are actively seeking recourse through tribunals, articulating that the inability to vote could have far-reaching consequences on their lives and their sense of belonging within the democratic process.
Migrant Worker's Plight
Antu Sheikh, a 42-year-old mason from Murshidabad, exemplifies the human impact of these deletions. Despite his family members remaining on the voter list, Antu and his elder sister, Lalmoni Khatun, have had their names expunged following an adjudication process. Antu, who has consistently exercised his right to vote in previous elections, including the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, was summoned for a hearing on February 24th. He claims that despite submitting documentation, including his father's death certificate (who was a voter in 2002) and land records dating back to 1948, their names were removed. Antu expresses frustration over the situation, highlighting the potential repercussions, stating that employers often require voter cards for employment. He has initiated an online appeal to the tribunal, emphasizing his commitment to voting whenever elections occur, even if it means returning home from his work.
Professional's Disenfranchisement
Premendra Mani Pradhan, a 36-year-old professional holding an MTech in engineering and employed at a private university in Barasat, North 24 Parganas, stands as a solitary case within his extended family of 35 whose name has been deleted. Despite being under adjudication, Pradhan asserts that he received no notification for a hearing. He recounts submitting his birth certificate and secondary examination documents, along with his passport, to the electoral authorities upon his BLO's request. Nevertheless, his name was removed from the electoral roll. Pradhan, who voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and prior ones, believes the ECI portal should provide clear reasons for deletion and facilitate online document submission for appeals. He has filed an online appeal but remains uncertain about his voting eligibility for future elections.
Descendant's Appeal
Syed Reza Ali Mirza, an 82-year-old descendant of Nawab Mir Jafar, along with his son, Syed Md Fayeem Mirza, 42, have also been subjected to name deletion post-adjudication. Reza, locally known as 'Chote Nawab,' and his son, a school teacher and local TMC councillor, were among those whose names were removed. While Reza's wife's name remains on the list, his and his son's have been deleted. They recall attending a hearing in December after receiving notices, submitting proof of Reza's retired government employee status and Fayeem's Class 10 examination admit card, among other documents. Despite their efforts, their names were struck off. Reza, who voted in the Lok Sabha polls, expresses his dismay, questioning if he will regain his right to vote and if his last wish to be buried in his ancestral graveyard will be honored.
Homemaker's Identity Crisis
Shukla Dutta, a 63-year-old homemaker from Kolkata, faces the potential loss of her voting rights after over 40 years of participation. Her name and her husband's, present on the 2002 electoral roll, are now missing. Having lost her documents in a 1971 flood, she attempted to prove her identity by presenting her son's 1984 birth certificate, which listed her and her husband's names, along with her nearly 40-year-old EPIC card. Despite these efforts, her name was deleted. Dutta has challenged the decision at a tribunal, emphasizing the critical role of the voter card as a primary identity document, essential for bank accounts and other records. She questions where she will turn if her name remains excluded.
Advocate's Removal
Md Yasin Mahaladar, a 53-year-old advocate from Malda, finds his name deleted from the electoral roll, despite practicing law since 2002, the same year as the last Special Summary Revision (SSR). His father's name was also on the 2002 list. During a hearing, Mahaladar presented his lawyer's identity card, land deeds, and educational certificates. However, his name was removed from the supplementary list, while his son's remains. Mahaladar, who was a CPI(M) candidate in the 2023 Zilla Parishad polls and voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, voices his concern over this discrepancy.
Concerns of the Marginalized
Sahanara Bibi, a 46-year-old homemaker from Tetulberia village in Minakhan, questions the rules that lead to her disenfranchisement, stating that every Indian has the right to vote. Having obtained her voter ID at 18 and voted consistently until 2024, she is now unable to do so, while her husband remains on the electoral roll. Kutubuddin Dhali, a 33-year-old daily wager from Debitala village, also in Minakhan, has been consumed by the paperwork involved in the SSR process, impacting his ability to work. He expresses confusion over his name's deletion and his determination to appeal, even if it means going to the Supreme Court, highlighting the loss of basic rights. Ashura Bibi, 26, a homemaker from Nimicha village in Minakhan, fears detention camps due to inconsistencies in her name across documents, leading to her name's removal from the electoral roll while her husband's remains. Azida Tarafdar, 45, a homemaker from Minakhan, is struggling to ascertain the status of her online appeal, as local officials claim not to handle such cases. She has been voting since she was 18 and worries about future directives and the implications of not being considered Indian.
Widespread Document Issues
Roshida Khatun, a 40-year-old homemaker from Minakhan, is deeply concerned about the implications of her deleted voter ID. She fears her bank accounts might be frozen and that she will be denied access to government welfare schemes and essential services like hospital admissions, which often require voter ID cards. Khatun notes that many deletions have occurred due to minor spelling discrepancies. She, like many others, followed all instructions and submitted numerous documents, yet her name was removed. The process of proving identity has become an overwhelming hurdle, potentially leading to a complete deprivation of rights and assistance.
