The publication of the draft electoral roll under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal has sparked a fresh wave of controversy. Following reports of living persons being marked as deceased, a new row has erupted involving the CPI(M) State Secretary, Mohammed Salim. It is alleged that both Salim and his son, Aziz Aziz, had their surnames altered to “Awasthi”,a title typically associated with North Indian Brahmins, in the draft list.
The discrepancy came to light after Aziz Aziz, a voter in the Kolkata Port Assembly constituency, shared screenshots of the draft roll on social media, prompting a sharp exchange between political circles and the Election Commission (EC).
“Converted to Brahmins”: Salim’s Son Mocks Errors
Taking to social media to highlight the clerical blunder, Aziz Aziz sarcastically remarked on the irony of the situation. He referenced political narratives suggesting the SIR process was intended to target specific communities, only to find himself and his father “converted” to Brahmins by the commission.
The shared screenshots reportedly show his name listed as “Aziz Aziz Awasthi” and his father’s name as “Mohammed Salim Awasthi.” This revelation has fueled concerns regarding the technical integrity of the massive data-entry exercise involved in the voter list revision.
Election Commission Denies Allegations
In response to the growing outcry, the Election Commission sought a detailed report from the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO). Upon reviewing the findings, the Commission has officially dismissed the allegations, stating that there is no factual basis for the claim of a surname change for Mohammed Salim in their records.
Despite the denial, the EC maintained that they are continuously monitoring the process. Officials stated that should any genuine clerical errors be discovered, they would be rectified during the upcoming claims and objections phase.
