Senior Bengal Minister Shashi Panja Faces Voter List Hearing, Criticizes Election Commission
KOLKATA: Senior Bengal minister Shashi Panja, a trusted cabinet colleague of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a three-time MLA, was compelled to attend a Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls (SIR) hearing on Sunday. The minister attributed this requirement to her name being inexplicably absent from the Booth Level Officer (BLO) application, despite her established voter status.
"This Is Sheer Harassment": Panja's Strong Rebuke
Emerging from the hearing center at Keshub Academy, an visibly angry Panja launched a sharp critique against the Election Commission, particularly targeting its National Voters' Day celebrations. "What National Voters' Day is this? This is sheer harassment," she declared, questioning the integrity of the electoral process.
Panja clarified that while she received the notice, her husband and daughters were not summoned. She presented multiple documents during the hearing, including the 2002 voters' list containing her name, her Aadhaar card, and educational testimonials. However, the situation escalated when the BLO subsequently requested her passport.
"Why should I show them my passport? I will not. According to EC rules, I am not supposed to give them any documents if my name is on the 2002 list and the 2025 draft SIR list. I still gave them two. If my name is not there in the BLO app, it is their (EC's) problem, not mine. Why should I be harassed?" Panja asserted, highlighting what she perceived as procedural overreach.
Hearing Proceedings and Political Implications
The minister entered the hearing center at 2 pm with her documents neatly organized in a folder. After initially submitting her papers and speaking to reporters outside, the BLO's unexpected passport request infuriated her. Although she considered leaving, her aides, including the local councillor, advised her to consult with the additional electoral registration officer to fully comprehend the issue.
Upon re-entering for a second discussion, Panja later informed reporters, "The ERO (electoral registration officer) spoke to me. I was told that I did not have to submit any other document as my name was there on the 2002 list. This only proves that what we (Trinamool) have been saying all along is correct. I may have been lucky, but this is how people are being axed from the voters' list."
Broader Pattern of SIR Notices in Trinamool
Panja is not alone in facing such scrutiny. Debangshu Bhattacharya, the TMC's IT cell chief and a 2024 Lok Sabha poll contestant, also received a hearing notice. He took to social media platform X to express his frustration, writing, "Time to prove that I am an Indian." Bhattacharya revealed that his sister and two cousins have similarly been called for hearings.
He pointed out that his parents and uncle are listed on the 2002 voters' roll without any spelling discrepancies or errors. Bhattacharya speculated on the motives behind these notices, suggesting, "But this is understandable. They are using AI to scan social media behaviour. Those who are critical of BJP will be slapped with hearing notices. Deletion of even a few names from the voters' list will help BJP."
This incident adds to a growing list of Trinamool seniors who have recently faced SIR notices, including:
- Actor-MP Dev
- Junior minister Tajmul Hossain
- MPs Samirul Islam and Bapi Haldar
The episode underscores ongoing tensions between the ruling Trinamool Congress and election authorities in West Bengal, raising questions about voter list integrity and potential political targeting ahead of crucial electoral cycles.
