In a significant admission, electoral registration officers (EROs) in Kolkata have reported to the Election Commission (EC) that errors were made in marking three voters as deceased. The issue was brought to light by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee during a public rally.
The Rally and the 'Ghost' Voters
During a political gathering in Baruipur on Friday, Abhishek Banerjee presented three individuals—Monirul Islam Molla and Harikrishna Giri from Metiabruz, and Maya Das from Kakdwip. He referred to them as "ghosts who were walking," asserting that their names had been incorrectly listed as dead on the electoral rolls, thereby disenfranchising them.
EC's Investigation and Findings
Following the incident, the Election Commission sought a detailed report. According to an EC official, the investigation revealed a nuanced picture. The marking of Maya Das's name as 'dead' is considered a genuine mistake on the part of the Booth Level Officer (BLO), who is now likely to face penal action.
However, in the cases of Monirul Islam Molla and Harikrishna Giri, the errors were deemed "unintentional." Their names were not on the initial list of voters slated for exclusion. They appeared on the website later, prompting action. After the controversy erupted, the concerned BLO visited the residences of both Molla and Giri and provided them with Form-6 to apply for fresh inclusion. The official clarified that the processing of these forms was completed well before Banerjee's Friday rally.
Broader Inquiry and Compliance
In a related development, the Election Commission has also directed the District Election Officers (DEOs) of South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore to submit reports. These reports are to detail the compliance regarding the filing of First Information Reports (FIRs) against the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) of Baruipur East and Moyna assembly constituencies.
This incident has spotlighted the critical importance of accuracy in electoral rolls and the processes followed by ground-level election officials. While the EC's report distinguishes between a penalizable error and unintentional lapses, it underscores the need for rigorous verification to protect voters' rights.
