Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Amid the ongoing controversy over large scale deletions from voter lists in West Bengal, AITC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee made a strong statement, assuring that names of affected voters would be restored if his party returns to power, while also questioning the claims made by the BJP and the Election Commission.
Speaking in Kolkata, Abhishek Banerjee addressed concerns surrounding the reported removal of lakhs of names from the electoral rolls. He said that the issue has created anxiety among voters and raised serious questions about the fairness and transparency of the revision process.
He assured that if the Trinamool Congress comes back to power, all those whose names have been removed from the voter list will have their names restored.
Banerjee also challenged the narrative presented by the BJP and authorities regarding the deletions. Referring to claims that the revision process targeted ineligible or illegal entries, he questioned whether all those removed could be labelled as illegal immigrants.
He said that if BJP and the Election Commission claim that around 90 lakh names were deleted due to illegal status, they must clarify whether all those individuals were Bangladeshis.
He further pointed out that, according to statements made in the political discourse, a significant percentage of the deleted names reportedly belonged to Hindus. Raising this issue, he questioned whether those individuals would also be categorized as illegal immigrants under such claims.
He questioned that if 63 percent of the deleted names were of Hindus, then by that logic, they too would have to be considered Bangladeshis or Rohingya, which he implied was not reasonable.
The remarks come amid a heated political debate over voter list revisions in the state, with different parties presenting contrasting perspectives. While authorities have stated that the exercise is aimed at removing duplicate and ineligible entries, opposition parties have raised concerns about wrongful deletions and potential disenfranchisement.
The issue has become a central theme in the election campaign, with leaders from various parties addressing it in rallies and public meetings. Concerns about voter rights, transparency, and the integrity of the electoral process continue to dominate political discussions.
Abhishek Banerjee’s statement adds to the ongoing political exchange, highlighting sharp differences between parties over voter list revisions and their implications.
As elections approach, the matter is expected to remain a key issue, with both sides continuing to present their arguments and appeal to voters.
The debate over voter list deletions underscores the importance of ensuring fairness and inclusivity in the electoral process, which remains at the core of democratic participation.
