The Election Commission of India has summoned Trinamool Congress’ Rajya Sabha member, Samirul Islam, for a hearing regarding discrepancies in the voters’ list in West Bengal. Islam faces a “logical discrepancy” case due to name mismatches with his father’s details from 2002. He is required to attend the hearing on January 19 in the Hansan Assembly constituency of Birbhum district.
Samirul Islam has acknowledged receiving the notice for the hearing. Notably, he is the second Trinamool Congress MP to be served with such a notice. Previously, a similar notice was issued to Dipak Adhikari, a three-time Lok Sabha member and actor-turned-politician from Ghatal constituency in West Midnapore district.
The Election Commission has informed the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in West Bengal that admit cards for the secondary examination by the WBBSE will not be considered a valid identity document for voters summoned for hearings. While the Madhyamik pass-out certificate is accepted as a valid document, the admit cards are not considered equivalent. The ECI clarified its stance, stating that the admit card will not suffice as a valid identity document.
