Relief came for Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and state minister Shashi Panja after her name appeared in the second supplementary voter list, clearing uncertainties over her eligibility to file nomination papers for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly election.
ย
Panja, the partyโs candidate from Shyampukur, had earlier been placed under โadjudicationโ status after her name was missing from both the final voter list and the first supplementary list, despite being summoned for a hearing under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The development had raised concerns about potential complications in her nomination. With her inclusion now confirmed, those hurdles have been resolved.
ย
Meanwhile, the TMC has approached the Calcutta High Court seeking urgent intervention in the ongoing SIR process. In a letter addressed to Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya called for measures to ensure transparency, speed, and efficiency in the revision of electoral rolls.
ย
The party alleged that although nearly 27 lakh cases have reportedly been disposed of, comprehensive data has not yet been made public, leaving the electoral status of many voters uncertain. According to the TMC, at least 11 of its candidates are still under scrutiny in the SIR process, which could complicate nomination filings if not resolved promptly.
ย
In its appeal, the party urged the court to prioritise cases involving political candidates and ensure swift hearings for any related appeals. The issue, it said, is critical given the proximity of the elections and the need for clarity in voter eligibility.
ย
Panja had earlier expressed dissatisfaction after being summoned during SIR proceedings in January, stating that her name had been part of the voter list since 2002 and that all required documentation had been duly submitted.
ย
The ruling party has consistently voiced concerns over the SIR exercise. Leaders, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and MP Abhishek Banerjee, have alleged that valid voters are being excluded from electoral rolls.
ย
Speaking at Kolkata Airport on Friday before departing for Andal, Mamata sharply criticised both the BJP-led central government and the Election Commission. She alleged that names were being โstruck offโ without transparency and claimed that even the first supplementary list had not been properly shared.
ย
โThis is an assassination of democracy,โ she said, further alleging that more than half the names had been selectively removed. In a strongly worded remark, she added that if such practices continue, they would โsurpass even Hitlerโs regime.โ
ย
With elections approaching, the controversy surrounding the SIR process has emerged as a key political flashpoint in the state, adding to the already charged electoral atmosphere.
ย