Mamata Banerjee: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed strong concern about the deletion of 54 lakh voter names from the electoral rolls. She said at Nabanna, “Even killers get a hearing, yet these voters were removed unilaterally.” This remark indicates her displeasure with the lack of transparency and the pro-voter ruling.
Who Are the Affected Voters?
The voters mentioned are said to be part of the Election Commission’s absentee-shifted-dead (ASD) list. Mamata Banerjee mentioned that the names of many suppressed voters, among whom were
- Married women whose surnames changed after marriage
- People who have moved within the state
Allegations Against the Election Commission
Mamata Banerjee accused the Election Commission (EC) of arbitrarily deleting records, allegedly using AI systems and in the presence of BJP officials. She claimed that:
- Certain groups, especially married women, were disproportionately affected
- Some voters were labeled “anti-national” despite providing valid documents like Aadhaar, PAN, birth certificates, and domicile proofs
- Micro-observers were appointed exclusively in West Bengal, a practice not used in other states.
Voter Manipulation Concerns
Mamata Banerjee cautioned about the risk of voter manipulation ahead of the elections. She accused the BJP of:
- Transporting voters from the surrounding states of Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand
- Removing legitimate voters from the West Bengal voters list,
Call for Transparency and Accountability
The Chief Minister stressed the need for full transparency in the deletion process. She highlighted that citizens have the right to:
- Know if their names were deleted
- Rectify errors using Form 6 or Form 8
Impact on Democracy
Mamata Banerjee: The accusations leveled by Mamata Banerjee underscore the importance of voting rights and electoral legitimacy. It is essential that the authorities allow eligible citizens to verify their names on the voter list as one of the ways to do so. The situation necessitates immediate measures by the Election Commission to clarify issues, take responsibility for actions, and correct errors to protect democratic rights.
