Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's Strong Statement on Bengal Voter Deletion
In a sharp political attack, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan declared on Tuesday that the state of Bengal must decide whether "Bengalis or infiltrators" would govern it. This statement came just hours after the Election Commission of India struck off the names of a staggering 90.8 lakh voters from the electoral roll and froze the voters' list as part of the Special Intensive Revision exercise.
Pradhan's Direct Question to Bengal
Addressing the media after a roadshow in Kolkata's Rashbehari constituency, Pradhan posed a provocative question: "Bengal has to decide who should vote in Bengal, the Bangladeshis or Bengali-speaking people?" He emphasized that the deletions targeted only those who were not Indian citizens, stating firmly, "Those whose names have been deleted are not Indian citizens. Those who are from outside India are getting deleted from the rolls."
The minister had previously accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of relying on "votes of infiltrators to remain in office," adding a layer of political accusation to the administrative process.
Constitutional Process and Political Reactions
Speaking at the Kalighat temple, where he joined BJP candidate Swapan Dasgupta for prayers, Pradhan defended the Special Intensive Revision as a constitutional process that has been implemented in multiple states across the country. "The Special Intensive Revision is a constitutional process and we should accept that," he asserted, attempting to frame the voter deletion as a routine administrative measure rather than a political maneuver.
Meanwhile, Bengal's Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari highlighted the Supreme Court's directives regarding the voter list purification. He explained that Indian citizens whose names were erroneously deleted could apply at the tribunal for redressal. "There is a specific directive from the Supreme Court. If they are unable to cast their votes this time, they will get to vote in the next election," Adhikari stated, while insisting that "the filtration process should be complete. There shouldn't be the name of any Bangladeshi Muslim."
Accusations Against Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool
Adhikari directly targeted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, claiming that judicial intervention occurred only after she approached the apex court. "It is not the ECI to judge. The judiciary was involved after Mamata Banerjee's intervention," he alleged. He further accused Trinamool of attempting to confuse the public by equating the Special Intensive Revision with the National Register of Citizens, and even suggested the party wanted "dead voters to cast their votes."
Focus on Border District of Murshidabad
When questioned about the highest number of voter deletions occurring in Murshidabad district, Adhikari pointed to its geographical proximity to the India-Bangladesh border. "There is no fence that separates the border region," he noted, implying that this facilitated "large-scale infiltration in Murshidabad," which he suggested was reflected in the voter list purification.
The political discourse in Bengal has thus intensified around the voter deletion exercise, with BJP leaders framing it as a necessary measure to eliminate illegal voters, while opposition voices raise concerns about potential disenfranchisement of legitimate citizens. The issue remains highly charged as the state prepares for upcoming electoral battles.
