A significant error in West Bengal's draft electoral roll has sparked controversy, with the son of senior CPI(M) leader Mohammad Salim finding his surname inexplicably changed. Atish Aziz, a voter in the Kolkata Port Assembly constituency, discovered that his surname was listed as 'Avasti' in the draft list published by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Error Highlights Flaws in Revision Process
The mistake came to light on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, a day after the Election Commission released the draft roll following the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). While Mohammad Salim's own voter details were correctly listed, the error appeared in the list of his relatives. Atish Aziz stated that the change raises serious questions about the planning and execution of the EC's SIR exercise in the state.
"I live in Kolkata. My father was a parliament member for so many years, and now this 'mistake' has appeared," Aziz said. He added, "It is easy to understand what is happening to people who are not so-called privileged people like me. It is part of a larger infrastructural and unplanned process. The Election Commission has made me and my father a Brahmin."
Political Reaction and EC's Response
Mohammad Salim strongly criticized the Election Commission for the lapse. In an interview, he accused the Commission of taking the serious revision process lightly. "Lack of proper training and technical preparation is causing such mistakes. SIR has practically been turned into a farce," the CPI(M) leader remarked.
On the ground, corrective action has been initiated. Atish Aziz reported the matter to the CPI(M)'s booth-level agents. According to party sources, the name correction process will begin by filling the necessary forms through the concerned Booth Level Officer (BLO).
However, a senior EC official offered a different explanation. The official claimed that the original English draft roll for Kolkata was error-free and the mistake occurred during its translation into Bengali. The official stated, "Even after that, if such a mistake occurred, the concerned elector can correct his or her name by filling up Form 8 and submitting it to the BLO or via online."
Broader Implications for Electoral Integrity
This incident has put the spotlight on the challenges faced during large-scale electoral roll revisions. Key points of concern include:
- The accuracy of data translation between languages in official documents.
- The level of training provided to officials handling the sensitive SIR process.
- The potential impact on less prominent voters who may not have the resources to identify and correct such errors easily.
The episode underscores the critical need for meticulousness in maintaining the electoral roll, the foundational document for a free and fair democratic exercise. With the draft roll open for claims and objections, all eyes will be on how efficiently such corrections are processed by the authorities.
