With polling scheduled for April 23 in Nandigram, several residents have alleged that their names were removed from the electoral roll, raising concerns about voter inclusion.
Many affected individuals say they received notices from the Election Commission of India citing “logical discrepancy” as the reason for deletion.
Mamoni Khatun, a resident of Mohammadpur village, said her name was removed over an alleged age gap issue with her parents. “I do not understand this reason. How can this be a ground to remove my name?” she was quoted as saying by Clarion.
Discrepancies in Records Cited
Several villagers reported similar issues, including minor differences in age records, spelling variations, and inconsistencies in family details.
Ziarul Khan, another resident, said, “My father had two marriages and many children. Now the notice says more than six people have named the same father, so my case is under suspicion. What should we do?”
Sixty-year-old Moti Khan added, “I have five children, but the notice says six and three names have been removed. We have shown documents again and again. We are tired.”
Officials Say Verification Ongoing
Authorities have said the matter is under review. Niranjan Kumar, district election officer of Purba Medinipur, stated that the issue is currently before the court.
“The process is ongoing. If documents are found correct, names will be restored,” he said, referring to proceedings in the Supreme Court of India.
Data Raises Concerns Over Impact
According to an analysis by the Sabar Institute, a large majority of those affected in Nandigram are Muslim voters.
Out of 3,461 names reportedly removed under this category, around 3,270 are said to belong to Muslims. This has raised concerns among residents and observers, as Muslims form a smaller share of the constituency’s population.
Experts Question Criteria
Experts say the criteria used for identifying discrepancies may not always reflect ground realities.
Sabir Ahmed, director of the Sabar Institute, said, “There can be social reasons for such data patterns, including orphanages or naming practices. It should not automatically lead to deletion.”
He also pointed to technical issues, adding, “Translation and data processing errors can create mismatches, especially when records are converted between languages.”
Political Reactions and Concerns
Political leaders have reacted to the issue, with Dilip Ghosh suggesting documentation problems could be a factor, while leaders from the Trinamool Congress have questioned why a large number of Muslim voters appear affected.
Professor Himadri Chatterjee said the issue has shifted political debate. “Concerns about voter inclusion are now central,” he noted.
Fear Beyond Voting
For many residents, the issue goes beyond just voting rights. Ziarul Khan expressed deeper concerns, saying, “Today our names are removed from the voter list. Tomorrow, we fear our identity itself could be questioned.”
As polling day nears, uncertainty continues, with affected residents hoping their names will be restored in time to cast their votes.
