Bengali Organization Flags Critical Voter List Discrepancies Ahead of Jharkhand Municipal Elections
A delegation representing the 'Astitva Akhil Bharatiya Bangla Bhashi Samanvay Parishad' formally submitted a memorandum to State Election Commission (SEC) Secretary Radheshyam Prasad in Ranchi on Thursday. The urgent communication demands immediate correction of alleged errors in the voters' lists prepared for the upcoming municipal polls scheduled for February 23 across the state.
Allegations of Widespread Administrative Errors
The delegation presented detailed complaints indicating that numerous voters across multiple municipal wards have discovered their names registered in wards that do not correspond with their actual residential addresses. This administrative discrepancy, they argue, effectively denies these citizens their fundamental democratic right to elect their local ward councillor.
"The very foundation of our democracy rests upon the voter's constitutional right to participate," emphasized Abhijit Dutta Gupta, the central president of the parishad. "When a citizen is systematically prevented from voting in their legitimate residential ward, this transcends mere administrative oversight. It constitutes a serious violation of democratic principles that must be addressed with urgency."
Personal Accounts Highlight Systemic Issues
Uttam Banerjee, a resident who participated in the delegation, provided a concrete example of the problem. "My family's residence is officially located within ward 10, yet our names—mine, my wife's, and my 28-year-old son's—are all erroneously listed under ward 18," he stated. "This prevents us from voting for a councillor who will actually represent our locality and address our community's specific needs. How is this fair or democratic?"
Specific Demands for Electoral Integrity
The parishad's memorandum outlines several specific corrective measures requested from the election authorities:
- Immediate revision of all ward-wise voters' lists to strictly align with the official delimitation boundaries.
- Systematic transfer of all wrongly placed voter names to their correct residential wards.
- Public release of clear, accessible maps detailing exact ward boundaries to ensure transparency.
- A firm deadline ensuring all corrections are completed well before polling day.
The organization has further urged that if these critical errors cannot be rectified in time, the election process should be postponed until a verified and accurate electoral roll is established, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the democratic exercise.
Official Response and Procedural Context
In response to the representation, SEC Secretary Radheshyam Prasad acknowledged receipt of the concerns. "We have received the representation regarding the alleged discrepancies in the voters' list," Prasad confirmed. "The matter is being referred back to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) for thorough verification, as the electoral roll is prepared at the district level under the DC's chairmanship."
Prasad also provided context regarding the timeline, noting, "The voters' list was formally notified approximately three months prior to the announcement of the municipal elections, and all preparatory work was conducted accordingly at the district level." This statement highlights the established administrative procedure while underscoring the need for verification at the district authority level to address the parishad's claims.
The situation underscores ongoing challenges in maintaining accurate electoral rolls, a cornerstone of free and fair elections. With the polling date approaching, pressure mounts on election officials to investigate these allegations promptly and implement necessary corrections to ensure every eligible voter can exercise their franchise without obstruction.
