Voting Rights Hang in Balance Ahead of Bengal Assembly Elections
Following a Supreme Court hearing on Monday, the fate of lakhs of individuals whose names were deleted in the SIR process and have applied to the tribunal remains shrouded in uncertainty. These voters oscillate between faint hope and deep despair over their right to participate in the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal. With just about 10 days remaining before the polls, their franchise continues to hang in the balance, as their primary query—whether they will be allowed to press the button of their choice on the EVM this time—goes unanswered.
Supreme Court to Rehear Case Days Before Elections
The apex court is scheduled to hear the case again next Monday, merely three days before the first phase of the election in Bengal. This tight timeline has intensified anxiety among many across Kolkata who, after failing to clear judicial adjudication, are eagerly awaiting the tribunal's opinion on their voting rights. Renu Pramanik, a resident of the Bhowanipore constituency, expressed that there is "little hope" for her at this moment. "I have not given up my hope yet since I have been voting in the city for a long time. The anxious wait keeps lingering, and I am just looking forward to knowing whether my voting right will be restored before the city goes to the polls on April 29," she said.
Personal Stories Highlight Widespread Disenfranchisement
Rizwanal Haque, a professor at Aliah University living in Park Circus and a voter from Malda, shared his frustrations. "I don't think I shall be able to cast my vote this time. The next hearing will be held in the Supreme Court on April 20, while the poll in Malda will take place just three days later. I did not receive any call for a hearing, but I was placed under adjudication, the reason for which was not clarified to me. After making an appeal on April 3, I am waiting for the verdict of the tribunal on whether I would be allowed to vote," he rued.
Sukalyan Ari, whose name was deleted from the final electoral roll and whose fresh application via Form 6 was rejected, was not optimistic about any change in the coming week. "In my family, most of the voters have lost their voting rights, and we have no hope until the election is over. I don't think that these matters will be resolved soon so that these people can vote," he added.
Distinguished Citizens Also Affected
Former Indian Air Force officer Wing Commander Md Shamim Akhtar (Retd), who served the nation for 17 years, found his name abruptly deleted from the electoral rolls. Despite a distinguished career that included holding a diplomatic passport and serving in various key positions, Akhtar now must prove his citizenship and restore his right to vote. "I am waiting for the tribunal to function so that the cases are disposed of quickly. We have to be positive amidst such a situation. I hope that genuine voters will get back their lost rights," he stated.
Zaidul Haque, a 60-year-old voter from Magrahat, saw his name deleted on the supplementary list. He filed an appeal before the appellate tribunal on March 30, which is still pending. "My father Mojidul Haque had been a mokhtar (lawyer) since pre-Independence, practising in Alipore court. He was a student of Mitra Institution of Bhawanipore. He had also been the union board president of Magrahat in South 24 Parganas since Independence. Our family has Waqf Estate enrolled in 1947 in West Bengal Waqf Board and presently 518 bigha land under Haji Desarat and Mojidul Haque Waqf Estate. I submitted 24 documents, including my passport. Yet my name was deleted," he explained.
The collective sentiment among these voters reflects a broader crisis of disenfranchisement, with the Supreme Court's upcoming hearing being a critical juncture. As the election dates approach, the resolution of these cases remains pivotal for ensuring democratic participation in Bengal.
