West Bengal’s political arena heated up as TMC activists in Hasnabad, North 24 Parganas, launched a vehement protest against the Election Commission’s final voter list. On Saturday night, they paralyzed Lebukhali Road with burning tires, anti-ECI slogans, and the symbolic burning of Suvendu Adhikari’s effigy.
The trigger? The post-SIR voter roll, published that day, allegedly scrubbed valid names, particularly from minority areas. TMC accuses the ECI of cherry-picking booths to favor the BJP. Shahpur’s Booth No. 111 exemplifies this: 400 minority voters deleted from 1,065, leaving Hindu names largely intact.
Shahjahan Moral, TMC voice from the area, didn’t mince words: ‘It’s blatant discrimination against our minority base in this dominant booth.’ Broader claims point to 16,125 deletions in Basirhat sub-division, encompassing Hasnabad in Basirhat Dakshin.
Police swiftly responded, controlling the situation without arrests. Yet, the demonstrations reflect a pattern of unrest across Bengal, where TMC sees a sinister plot to tilt future polls.
The SIR was intended to refine voter accuracy, but TMC frames it as manipulation. As the party mobilizes further action, the episode underscores deepening divides between ruling TMC and opposition BJP, with the ECI caught in the crossfire.
Restoration of names and transparency are TMC’s calls. Until addressed, expect more street showdowns in this election-sensitive belt.