West Bengal bypolls: TMC MP urges EC to ensure no eligible voter denied voting right

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam appealed to the Election Commission (EC) on Monday to swiftly resolve the grievances of voters who had their names removed from the voter list during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, ensuring they are not denied the opportunity to vote in the upcoming Assembly bypolls.

Approximately 25 lakh appeals have been lodged with SIR tribunals concerning the deletion of individuals' names from the electoral rolls. In his letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Mr. Islam highlighted that numerous voters in the Rejinagar and Nandigram constituencies, slated for bypolls on October 6, are still awaiting decisions on their appeals.

The MP urged the EC, Chief Electoral Officer, and Electoral Registration Officers to promptly address the issues faced by these voters, emphasizing that thousands remain in limbo. Mr. Islam pointed out that these voters had already been deprived of their right to vote during the April Assembly elections, and allowing this situation to persist would lead to their disenfranchisement once again.

He requested the poll panel to estimate the time needed to process the pending appeals at the current pace and consider seeking modifications from the Supreme Court if necessary. The law permits appeals against orders related to electoral registration, and many of the affected voters have either already filed appeals or are in the process of doing so, while others are registering their names anew.

Mr. Islam stressed that addressing this issue is not merely an administrative measure but a vital step to uphold the constitutional principles of universal adult suffrage, the integrity of the voting process, and the inclusive nature of democracy in our nation.