Is there really no deceased, duplicate, or shifted voter in 2,208 booths in Bengal?
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Synopsis
In a surprising revelation, the Election Commission of India claims that 2,208 polling booths in West Bengal have no deceased, duplicate, or shifted voters. As the BJP questions the accuracy of these findings, calls for an audit raise concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
Key Takeaways
- 2,208 booths in West Bengal reported no deceased, duplicate, or shifted voters.
- 760 of these booths are in South 24 Parganas.
- Opposition party BJP questions the validity of these findings.
- Calls for an audit of enumeration data have been made.
- Election integrity is a pressing concern in the upcoming elections.
Kolkata, Dec 1 (NationPress) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reported that as of Monday evening, there are 2,208 polling booths in West Bengal without any records of deceased voters, duplicate entries, or voters who have relocated.
An insider from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)'s office revealed that the highest number of such booths, totaling 760, is located in the South 24 Parganas district. The second highest is in Purulia, with 228 booths.
The districts of Murshidabad and Malda, which have significant minority populations, rank third and fourth, with 226 and 216 booths respectively.
There are 582 polling booths across the state with only one case of a deceased, duplicate, or shifted voter. Meanwhile, 420 booths have reported just two such instances.
However, the BJP has raised concerns regarding the legitimacy of these findings, questioning how so many booths could have no records of deceased or duplicate voters.
BJP leader and Kolkata Municipal Corporation councillor Sajal Ghosh stated that these figures seem implausible, advocating for an immediate review of the data collected from these booths.
Earlier today, Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, urged the Election Commission of India to audit the enumeration entries from November 26, 27, and 28.
A delegation from the BJP led by Adhikari visited the CEO's office to lodge a complaint, emphasizing the need for an audit of the enumeration forms collected during those three days.
“We have demanded an audit of the entries from these three days by the team of central observers, who have been assigned by the ECI to oversee the SIR process in West Bengal. The audit should utilize advanced technology. On those days, there was a record of 1.25 crore enumeration form entries. This situation suggests a scam that must be investigated by the commission,” Adhikari told the media after filing the complaint.
Point of View
The claims made by the Election Commission raise significant questions about the electoral process in West Bengal. While the data suggests a clean voter roll, the skepticism from political parties like the BJP suggests that further scrutiny is necessary to maintain public trust in the electoral system. It is crucial to ensure transparency and accountability in electoral processes.
NationPress
01/12/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current status of polling booths in West Bengal?
The Election Commission of India has identified 2,208 polling booths in West Bengal that reportedly have no deceased, duplicate, or shifted voters.
Why is the BJP questioning the ECI's findings?
The BJP has expressed skepticism regarding the ECI's claims, suggesting that the numbers seem implausible and demanding an audit of the enumeration data.
What steps has the BJP taken regarding this issue?
The BJP, led by Suvendu Adhikari, has formally requested an audit of the entries from specific dates and raised concerns about potential discrepancies in the voter roll.
