Kolkata, March 29 (NationPress) CPI-M leader Hannan Mollah has voiced his concerns regarding the Election Commission of India (ECI) and its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal. He claims that the names of voters who are against the BJP are being unjustly removed from the electoral rolls.

In a conversation with IANS on Saturday, the seasoned Left leader asserted that the current revision process is both unprecedented and extensive.

"The Election Commission is pinpointing individuals who oppose the BJP and striking their names from the voters' list. Information has been provided to the ECI, leading to the formulation of lists under scrutiny. It is not feasible for lakhs of names to be deleted in this manner. There may be a few thousand cases, but it’s implausible that lakhs or even crores of voters are inauthentic," Mollah remarked.

He highlighted that such a method has not been adopted in the past.

“Revisions of the electoral rolls typically occur annually, with occasional special revisions. However, what we are witnessing this time is entirely different. This has never transpired before. Citizens are protesting and will continue to do so. Elections cannot proceed without a conclusive voters’ list. Every legitimate voter must be accounted for before the elections are held,” he emphasized.

Mollah also condemned the functioning of the Election Commission, alleging that it no longer operates independently.

“Historically, the Election Commission was never a tool of the government. It operated as an autonomous body, revising electoral rolls periodically. Currently, the situation has changed. Decisions are not being made in accordance with the Constitution,” he stated.

The CPI(M) leader expressed further apprehensions regarding the magnitude of deletions and the procedures being implemented, underscoring the necessity of ensuring the credibility of the electoral rolls prior to the elections.

Additionally, Mollah aimed his criticism at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

"Throughout India's history, the Election Commission has never served as an agent of the Union government. It was an independent entity that revised electoral rolls as needed. This individual (CEC Gyanesh Kumar) was an employee of the Home Ministry under the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. His appointment to the ECI was clearly orchestrated. It is transparent that he would create chaos, and that is precisely what is happening. He is not operating in accordance with the Constitution," the CPI-M leader asserted.