CPI(M) protests outside EC office, Naushad Siddique leads rally demanding fresh voter list

The controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of the voter list in West Bengal has intensified, with opposition parties staging protests and raising questions over the functioning of the Election Commission. The dispute escalated further after the publication of the final voter list, particularly over names that have been kept under consideration or marked “under adjudication”.

The CPI(M) has been staging a sit-in demonstration outside the Election Commission office since Wednesday, alleging irregularities in the revision process. State CPI(M) Secretary Mohammed Salim said that officials involved in the SIR process, from the lower ranks to senior levels, faced several difficulties during the exercise. He warned that if the Election Commission acts against the Constitution, the law, and the rights of citizens, protests would continue on the streets.

Opposition leaders have alleged that several legitimate voters have been marked under the “under adjudication” category in the newly released list, while many genuine voters have been excluded altogether. According to them, the situation has created confusion and concern among voters ahead of the upcoming electoral process.

Meanwhile, ISF MLA Naushad Siddique also joined the protests and organised a rally in Kolkata. A peaceful procession of more than a thousand people marched from Tipu Sultan Mosque in Dharmatala to the Election Commission office, demanding a completely fresh voter list that includes the names of all genuine voters whose names were allegedly removed from the current list.