Kolkata, February 25 – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed concern on Wednesday that around 1.20 crore names could be removed from the electoral rolls in the state following the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) process.
Addressing a gathering in her constituency of Bhabanipur in south Kolkata, the Chief Minister alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is identifying a large number of voters under what it termed "logical discrepancy" cases.
"The Election Commission of India is planning to remove such a large number of names after identifying them as logical discrepancy cases. The revision process is still underway. I am deeply concerned. First, over 58 lakh names were removed in the draft voters' list that was published in December last year. Then they started the process of removing names after identifying them as logical discrepancy cases. I believe that a total of 1.20 crore voters' names will ultimately be removed at the end of the SIR. I have fought up to the level of the Supreme Court in this matter. The fight is still on," the Chief Minister said.
She alleged that the names of genuine voters are being removed across communities.
"My only prayer now is that the democratic rights of the people should be protected. I am against the removal of names. I pray for those whose names will be removed. I have heard that even the names of voters with valid identity documents are being removed," she said.
Officials said that "logical discrepancy" cases refer to instances where irregularities were detected in family tree data during the process of "progeny mapping."
According to the current schedule, the final electoral rolls in West Bengal are set to be published on February 28.
However, since judicial proceedings are underway regarding the documents of over 50 lakh voters identified under logical discrepancy cases, supplementary electoral rolls may be published after the final list is released.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister also highlighted what she described as the tradition of communal harmony in the state.
"Since childhood, we are taught about all religions," she said.
She described Bhabanipur as a "mini-India", where people from different parts of the country live together in unity.