The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) has urged for accurate voter lists before the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. WBPCC President Subhankar Sarkar has called for a 24-hour sit-in protest outside the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Kolkata starting from 2 p.m. on February 27. The State Congress President criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comments on the Indian Youth Congress’s protest at a recent AI conference in Delhi.
Protests against PM Modi’s remarks are planned in Kolkata from 1 to 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Sarkar highlighted the historical significance of protests in minimal clothing during the freedom struggle. The Congress leadership in West Bengal defended the Indian Youth Congress’ protest as a legitimate form of expression to reveal the government’s actions.
Alleging discrepancies in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list that commenced on November 4 last year, the West Bengal Pradesh Congress hinted at escalating their protest. Sarkar emphasized the need to prevent eligible voters from being excluded and fake names from being added to the list. The State Congress President raised concerns over the legal validity of voter exclusions based on ‘logical discrepancies’.
The Congress is set to escalate their agitation with demands including the publication of the final voter list under SIR by February 28. They also seek fair treatment for applicants in Forms 6, 7, and 8, ensuring no genuine voter is excluded due to ‘logical discrepancies’. The party calls for clear guidelines for eligible voters accidentally omitted, to be provided before the nomination process begins.
