Bengal Voter Row Escalates as TMC MP's Family Members Called for SIR Hearings

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A controversy has erupted in West Bengal after several family members of Trinamool Congress (TMC) lawmaker Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar were called for hearings in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Dastidar, the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha, has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of targeting her family, sparking a political row. The SIR hearings, which began on Saturday, aim to clean up the voters' list by identifying and removing dead, duplicate, absent, or shifted voters. Over 16.3 million voters have discrepancies in their enumeration forms, and around 5.8 million names have been dropped from the draft roll. Dastidar's mother, sister, and two sons have been called for hearings, along with thousands of other voters who have been identified as having issues with their voter registration. The TMC has accused the ECI of working beyond its jurisdiction and targeting the party's voters. However, the ECI claims it is simply doing its job to ensure the integrity of the electoral roll. BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar has backed the ECI's efforts, stating that the TMC has become unnerved because fake and illegal voters are its main vote bank. The SIR hearings are expected to continue until February 7, 2026, and the final electoral roll will be published on February 14. Voters who have been called for hearings have been advised to bring necessary documents, including identification proofs and proof of residence. The controversy has led to the setting up of help desks by TMC and Opposition BJP workers outside the offices where the hearings are taking place. As the SIR process continues, it remains to be seen how many voters will be affected and what the outcome will be for the parties involved.