In Kolkata, a significant administrative tussle between the Election Commission (EC) and the West Bengal state government has failed to deter hundreds of anxious voters. These citizens, who have received notices for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing, are flocking to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) headquarters in a desperate bid to obtain domicile certificates, a key document for the electoral process.
The Core of the Controversy
The situation stems from a disagreement over the validity of state-issued domicile certificates as proof of identity for voters. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee formally complained to the EC on Saturday, alleging that district election officers were informally instructed not to accept these certificates issued by various state authorities. Adding to the confusion, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed on Monday that such certificates are invalid if the holder hasn't resided at the address for at least ten years.
While the EC has sought a detailed report from the Bengal government to clarify which authorities are empowered to issue these certificates, it officially recognizes a permanent residence certificate from a competent state authority as a valid document for the SIR process. This bureaucratic standoff, however, has created a cloud of uncertainty for ordinary voters.
Voices from the Queue: Anguish and Anxiety
Undeterred by the high-level dispute, long queues formed at the KMC headquarters as people who received SIR hearing notices sought to secure their documentation. Among them was Sakina Begum, an octogenarian from Ripon Street, who arrived with her three daughters. None of their names were on the 2002 SIR list, prompting the EC notice.
"We can't take the harassment anymore. I was a resident of Ripon Street for the past six decades, and now I am told to prove my citizenship," she expressed with frustration. "My husband worked at a famous heritage hotel in the Esplanade area. My children grew up here. What else do I need to prove my citizenship?"
Her hope turned to dismay when KMC officials informed her that they only collect documents, which are then sent to the collector's office in BBD Bag (Dalhousie) for examination and issuance. A KMC official confirmed that crowds gather daily, with most applicants unaware of this procedural nuance.
A City of Migrants Faces Proof of Residency Hurdle
The queue reflected Kolkata's diverse demographic. Pinky Dasgupta, a resident of Kasba, shared her fear: "I shiver to think what will happen if I don't get a domicile certificate." Similarly, Suntali Lama, originally from Kalimpong but a Kolkata resident for over four decades, now based in Garia, was also in line. She received a hearing notice because her name was missing from the 2002 list and hoped KMC would help arrange the certificate.
This scene underscores a larger issue of bureaucratic processes impacting long-term residents and internal migrants. The SIR hearing, intended to revise electoral rolls, has instead triggered a scramble for documentary proof of residence, putting the onus on citizens to navigate a complex administrative maze amidst conflicting signals from the state and central election authorities.
