An estimated 91 lakh people in West Bengal are suffering from the crisis of identity as their names have been deleted from the voter’s list. For a common citizen, the voter’s ID is not only a means to exercise his voting rights but a crucial identity document in the nation. Now, almost 9,083,345 citizens are at stake of losing their identity.
As per the final list released by the Election Commission, several people have been denied entry on the voter list. As far as consequences are concerned, this step not only raises alarm for politicians but also among lakhs of families living in border districts who would be branded as “illegals” within the same nation.
As revealed by the data, Murshidabad district has borne the maximum brunt as 4,55,137 names have been deleted from the list. North 24 Parganas district comes second in this regard as 3,25,666 names have been struck off the list. The other affected border districts include Cooch Behar, Uttar Dinajpur, Malda, and South 24 Parganas.
This exercise took place under SIR. There were 60,06,675 such cases pending under judicial review out of which 59,84,512 had been reviewed. Out of these, 27,16,393 voters have been declared as non-entitled voters and their names have been deleted from the list of eligible voters. Moreover, there are another 22,163 such cases which have been decided but digital signature is pending in them.
Election Commission has clarified that people who have been deleted will get an opportunity to file their appeal and reapply.
On the other hand, elections to West Bengal Assembly are around the corner. First Phase of Elections would be held on April 23 for 152 constituencies and Second Phase would be held on April 29 for 142 constituencies and results would be announced on May 4.
