The Election Commission of India has issued notices to Indian cricket star Mohammed Shami, Trinamool Congress MP and actor Dev, and several other prominent personalities in West Bengal, summoning them for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing. The move is part of a contentious electoral roll revision process that has already led to the deletion of over 58 lakh voter names in the state.
Notices to Prominent Figures
Fast bowler Mohammed Shami and his brother Mohammed Kaif received an official notice on Monday from the Kartju Nagar School in Jadavpur, South Kolkata. Shami is a registered voter in Kolkata Municipal Corporation Ward No. 93, which comes under the Rashbehari assembly constituency. His hearing is scheduled between January 9 and 11. However, Shami could not attend the Monday hearing as he is currently in Rajkot representing Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament. Reports indicate he has informed the EC that he will appear for the hearing at a later date.
In a parallel development, Tollywood superstar and three-time MP from Ghatal, Dev (Deepak Adhikari), has also been summoned for an SIR hearing. Notices have also been sent to three other members of his family. The ruling Trinamool Congress has strongly criticized this action, labeling it as pure harassment of an elected representative.
The list of notable individuals receiving summons extends to other cultural icons. Renowned poet Joy Goswami, popular Bengali actor Laboni Sarkar, her husband Kaushik Bandyopadhyay, and actor Anirban Bhattacharya have also been called by the Election Commission.
Background of the SIR Exercise
The current controversy stems from the Election Commission's instructions issued on October 27, which initiated the Special Intensive Revision process. The directive required voters to fill forms and trace their linkage, or that of a family member, to the electoral roll from the last intensive revision conducted way back in 2002 in West Bengal. The objective was to 'map' current voters to the 2002 roll to validate their continued eligibility.
The fallout from this exercise became clear on December 16, when the EC published West Bengal's draft electoral rolls post-SIR. The draft revealed the deletion of more than 58 lakh voter names on grounds including death and migration, effectively redrawing voter profiles across districts and border areas ahead of the crucial 2026 assembly polls.
Political Fallout and Reactions
The SIR process has ignited a major political controversy in Bengal, where elections are scheduled later this year. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared on Monday that her government would move court against the SIR and the "inhumane" manner of its implementation in the state.
This follows an earlier meeting between TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee and the Election Commission bench, where the party raised its concerns about the electoral roll revision. The TMP alleged that their issues were not adequately addressed and claimed the Chief Election Commissioner was "aggressive" during the discussions.
The issuance of notices to high-profile individuals like Shami and Dev has further intensified the debate, with the ruling party framing it as voter intimidation ahead of the elections. The situation remains fluid as the scheduled hearings approach and legal challenges are prepared.
