The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday presented a strong case to the Election Commission of India, urging a major overhaul of the summary revision of electoral rolls process. The party demanded the introduction of online hearings and electronic document submission to ease the significant burden on voters, particularly the elderly and marginalized sections.
Key Demands for Vulnerable Voters
In a detailed deputation, the TMC emphasized that the current system of in-person hearings imposes severe hardship. The party specifically asked the poll panel to simplify procedures for senior citizens, migrant workers, daily wage earners, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. The delegation argued that summoning all voters with discrepancies to a central location within an assembly segment is impractical and unfair.
State Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, speaking outside the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office, questioned the logistics. She asked how residents of remote areas would manage travel if hearing centres were located far away and warned that if the CEO proceeded to delete names based on "someone else's instructions," the TMC would intensify its protests.
Revealing Major Flaws in the Draft List
In a startling revelation, the party handed over a list of nine individuals who are alive but have been incorrectly marked as deceased in the draft electoral roll. This serious discrepancy raised questions about the accuracy of the ongoing revision process.
Responding to this allegation, CEO Manoj Agarwal stated, "We will conduct an enquiry into this. If it is found true, the concerned Booth Level Officer (BLO) will face action." The delegation, which also included Minister Shashi Panja and Barrackpore MP Partha Bhowmik, demanded greater transparency, asking the EC to publicly disclose all online forms submitted for new applications and corrections.
Logistical Nightmare and Citizenship Concerns
The TMC's submission highlighted a looming administrative crisis. Based on available estimates, over 50,000 electors may be required to appear for hearings, a process managed by just ten Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs). This would force each AERO to conduct an impossible more than 160 hearings per day.
The party pointed out that an assembly segment can span a 15-20 km radius. For voters dependent on agriculture or daily wages, compulsory travel to a distant hearing point means a direct loss of income and avoidable distress. Furthermore, the TMC expressed deep concern that summoning bona fide voters on vague grounds implicitly casts doubt on their citizenship and electoral legitimacy, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.
On the demand to hold hearings at panchayat or municipality offices for voter convenience, a senior EC official explained that BDO/SDO/DM offices were chosen due to better availability of manpower, security, and data connectivity. The official also clarified that BLOs would display notices for all submitted forms, including online applications, at designated camps.
