The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal is mired in controversy. The Election Commission summoned Minister Shashi Panja, whose name appears on the 2002 list but not on the app, for a hearing. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has accused the Election Commission of harassing voters and working in favor of the BJP, escalating political tensions between the two parties.
The hearing process is underway in West Bengal under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Mamata Banerjee’s list. As part of the hearing process, the Election Commission has now issued a notice to West Bengal’s Women and Child Welfare Minister, Shashi Panja. The minister has been summoned for the SIR hearing. The minister will attend the hearing at Keshav Academy on Sunday afternoon.
The allegation is that she has been summoned despite her name appearing on the SIR 2002 list, and this incident has caused a sensation. Earlier, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, renowned cricketer Mohammed Shami, and TMC MP and actor Dev were served notices for a hearing. Current Minister Shashi Panja has been summoned for the hearing.
Minister Shashi Panja has been in politics for a long time and is also a public representative. According to Commission sources, her name is on the 2002 list, but not on the draft list. It is being reported that Panja’s name is missing due to a technical glitch in the BLO app. She will be there by 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Summoned Despite Name Being on the 2002 List
In an interview, she said, “My name is on the 2002 list, but the Election Commission is rushing the SIR process. That’s why there are so many glitches in the app. Because of this, it turned out that my name was on the 2002 list but not on the app. They must have thought they would hold a separate hearing for me.”
She said, “But I myself said that I will work like any other ordinary person, standing in line to attend hearings and complete their work. Logical errors cause a lot of trouble. The Commission is responsible for this.”
On the other hand, BJP leader Sajal Ghosh said, “She should have gone to court. She could have shown that her name is on the 2002 voter list but not on the app. I support her statement that she will stand in line, but if such a grave injustice has been done to her, she should have approached the Commission.”
Allegations of Harassment of People in SIR
It is worth noting that irregularities are continuously being reported regarding SIR in West Bengal, and the Trinamool Congress has accused the Election Commission of harassing voters. Mamata Banerjee has written several letters to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding this.
Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee himself met with Gyanesh Kumar and questioned the SIR, and Abhishek Banerjee has again sought an appointment with the state’s Chief Electoral Officer later this week.
The Election Commission and the TMC are locked in a tug-of-war over the SIR, with the TMC accusing the Commission of colluding with the BJP and alleging bias, a charge the BJP has denied.
