West Bengal MLAs Summoned for SIR Hearings Amid Allegations of Political Targeting
The political landscape in West Bengal has heated up with two prominent MLAs receiving official notices for hearings related to the Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls (SIR).
Notices Served to Minister and ISF MLA
On Sunday, authorities served a notice to Tajmul Hossain, the junior minister for minority affairs in Bengal. Hossain represents the Harishchandrapur constituency in Malda as an MLA. The notice directs him to appear for an SIR hearing scheduled for January 29.
In a parallel development, Naushad Siddiqui, the sole MLA of the Indian Secular Front (ISF), also received a similar notice. Siddiqui holds the Bhangar seat and is a registered voter in Jangipara, Hooghly.
Allegations of Foul Play and Conspiracy
Both politicians have raised strong objections to these notices. They allege foul play and see a deliberate conspiracy at work.
Tajmul Hossain expressed his surprise and frustration. "It is most surprising that the same Election Commission elected me MLA thrice and now questions my identity," he stated. The notice points to a discrepancy between his or his father's name as it appears on the 2002 electoral list versus the current submission.
Hossain firmly denies any such discrepancy exists. "There is no discrepancy at all," he asserted. The minister went further, accusing the Election Commission of harassment. "If we are being harassed in this manner by the EC, what will common people do?" He claimed that hundreds face similar issues daily due to minor discrepancies, actions he attributes to pressure from the BJP. "It is a sheer conspiracy," Hossain concluded.
Naushad Siddiqui, known for his previous criticism of the SIR process, echoed these sentiments. After receiving his notice, he alleged a coordinated effort. "It is clearly a conspiracy by Trinamool and the BJP," Siddiqui said. However, he affirmed his readiness to comply, citing constitutional protections. "But I'm not scared, as my right to vote is guaranteed under Article 326 of the Indian Constitution."
Political Backgrounds of the Accused
Tajmul Hossain is a seasoned politician with a significant electoral history. He first won his MLA seat in 2006 as a candidate of the Forward Bloc, securing re-election in 2011. After a loss in 2016, he switched allegiance to the Trinamool Congress. Hossain successfully retained his Harishchandrapur seat in the 2021 elections and subsequently received his ministerial portfolio.
Naushad Siddiqui represents the Indian Secular Front, a smaller party in the state's political arena. His vocal stance against the SIR process has been consistent, making this notice a focal point of his political struggle.
Both leaders have confirmed they will attend their respective hearings despite their allegations. The situation highlights ongoing tensions in Bengal's political sphere, where electoral procedures often become battlegrounds for larger partisan conflicts.
