The Election Commission of India addressed controversies surrounding the summoning of celebrities for hearings on claims and objections regarding the draft voters’ list. Chandra Kumar Bose, the grandnephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, was recently summoned by the poll panel for a hearing. The Chief Electoral Officer’s office in West Bengal clarified that the summoning of Chandra Kumar Bose was in line with the notification from ECI, refuting misleading claims.
Political controversies arose over similar hearing notices sent to various individuals, including actor-turned-politician Dipak Adhikari (Dev), former Trinamool Congress MP Swapan Sadhan Bose (Tutu Bose), his son Srinjoy Bose, and cricketer Mohammed Shami. The controversies stemmed from the linkage columns being left blank on the enumeration forms, leading to clarification notices from the CEO’s office. The deadline for submissions on claims and objections to the draft voters’ list is approaching, with hearing sessions scheduled until February 7.
The Election Commission is set to visit West Bengal after the deadline, followed by the announcement of polling dates for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. The controversies over the summoning of individuals for hearings highlight the ongoing process of ensuring accuracy and completeness in the electoral roll.
