The Crossbill News Desk
The Left Front in West Bengal has announced a statewide agitation alleging large-scale irregularities in the recently published voter list and has urged people to mobilise to “protect their voting rights.”
The call was made by Left Front Chairman Biman Basu in a statement issued on Monday, March 2.
As part of the programme, the Left Front will stage a demonstration in front of the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Kolkata on Wednesday, March 4, at 3 pm.
Protests will also be organised across districts at the offices of Block Development Officers (BDOs), Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) and District Magistrates under the slogan “Save Voting Rights.”
In his statement, Basu alleged serious discrepancies in the voter list published by the Election Commission.
“The voter list published by the Election Commission on February 28 shows that the names of more than 60 lakh voters in the state are marked as “under consideration.” Following this list, there are fears that the names of lakhs of valid voters may be excluded. It appears from the list that a large number of voters, especially from minority communities, are being planned for exclusion,” Basu wrote in the letter.
According to him, the list indicates that a substantial number of voters, particularly from minority communities, are at risk of exclusion.
The statement further noted that 58.5 percent of the voters placed under consideration are from Uttar Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas. It alleged that districts such as Malda and Murshidabad have the highest numbers of people on the suspect list despite 97 percent of the mapping process reportedly being completed there.
The Left Front also claimed that many tribals, Scheduled Castes and members of the Matua community have been affected, with poor and marginalised sections forming a significant portion of those flagged.
Launching a sharp attack on the BJP, the Left Front accused the party’s national leadership of branding those listed under consideration as infiltrators.
The statement alleged that the Election Commission is functioning in line with BJP directives and that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process is being used to implement the party’s political agenda. It also criticised sections of the state administration, including District Magistrates, SDOs and BDOs, for allegedly assisting in the exercise.
The Left Front has demanded that names already mapped with the 2002 electoral rolls be immediately declared valid and removed from the pending category. It has also sought transparency regarding the grounds on which other names have been kept under consideration.
Calling the issue an attack on democratic rights, the Left Front appealed to citizens to join what it described as a united mass resistance against disenfranchisement.
It has also urged democratic forces, organisations and individuals to come together to oppose what it termed the BJP’s plan, and reiterated its resolve to intensify protests if its demands are not addressed.
The call was made by Left Front Chairman Biman Basu in a statement issued on Monday, March 2.
As part of the programme, the Left Front will stage a demonstration in front of the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Kolkata on Wednesday, March 4, at 3 pm.
Protests will also be organised across districts at the offices of Block Development Officers (BDOs), Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) and District Magistrates under the slogan “Save Voting Rights.”
In his statement, Basu alleged serious discrepancies in the voter list published by the Election Commission.
“The voter list published by the Election Commission on February 28 shows that the names of more than 60 lakh voters in the state are marked as “under consideration.” Following this list, there are fears that the names of lakhs of valid voters may be excluded. It appears from the list that a large number of voters, especially from minority communities, are being planned for exclusion,” Basu wrote in the letter.
According to him, the list indicates that a substantial number of voters, particularly from minority communities, are at risk of exclusion.
The statement further noted that 58.5 percent of the voters placed under consideration are from Uttar Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas. It alleged that districts such as Malda and Murshidabad have the highest numbers of people on the suspect list despite 97 percent of the mapping process reportedly being completed there.
The Left Front also claimed that many tribals, Scheduled Castes and members of the Matua community have been affected, with poor and marginalised sections forming a significant portion of those flagged.
Launching a sharp attack on the BJP, the Left Front accused the party’s national leadership of branding those listed under consideration as infiltrators.
The statement alleged that the Election Commission is functioning in line with BJP directives and that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process is being used to implement the party’s political agenda. It also criticised sections of the state administration, including District Magistrates, SDOs and BDOs, for allegedly assisting in the exercise.
The Left Front has demanded that names already mapped with the 2002 electoral rolls be immediately declared valid and removed from the pending category. It has also sought transparency regarding the grounds on which other names have been kept under consideration.
Calling the issue an attack on democratic rights, the Left Front appealed to citizens to join what it described as a united mass resistance against disenfranchisement.
It has also urged democratic forces, organisations and individuals to come together to oppose what it termed the BJP’s plan, and reiterated its resolve to intensify protests if its demands are not addressed.
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