The Election Commission of India refuted claims made by the Trinamool Congress that two former Rajya Sabha members were summoned without valid reasons during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Reports surfaced that Swapan Sadhan Bose, also known as Tutu Bose, and his son Srinjoy Bose, both former MPs, were asked to attend hearings regarding the draft voters’ list. The TMC alleged that the Commission singled out these leaders due to their affiliation with the ruling party in the state.
The Chief Electoral Officer’s office in West Bengal released a statement on Tuesday evening dismissing the accusations and explaining that the notices were issued because the linkage columns in the submitted enumeration forms were left blank. The statement clarified that Swapan Sadhan Bose and his family were called for a hearing like other similar electors as per the ECI notification. It was mentioned that due to Bose’s health condition, he could opt for a hearing at his residence.
Notable personalities from West Bengal, such as Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, poet Joy Goswami, and cricketer Mohammed Shami, have been summoned recently as part of the SIR process. With Tutu Bose receiving a notice, another prominent figure from the state’s sports community joins the list. Srinjoy Bose also confirmed through a social media post that the family was scheduled for a hearing on January 19.
