Election Commission Clarifies Amartya Sen's Attendance Not Required

Clarification from the Election Commission

The Election Commission (EC) clarified on Tuesday that Nobel laureate Amartya Sen is not required to appear for a hearing. This statement comes after reports suggested that Sen was summoned due to discrepancies in the spelling of his name on the voter list.

An official mentioned that since booth-level officers (BLOs) have the authority to correct minor errors, including spelling mistakes in voters' names, the matter concerning the economist will be resolved administratively at the local level.

Earlier in the day, Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee claimed that the Election Commission had sent Sen a notice for a Special Intensive Review (SIR) hearing. However, a family member of Sen stated to a news agency that they had not yet received any notice from the commission.

The official further explained that the confusion regarding the spelling is purely technical and does not affect the eligibility of the voter. Officials have been instructed to resolve such issues at the administrative level to avoid unnecessary disputes.

The commission emphasized that minor errors in voters' names do not impact the hearing process or the rights of the voter, and officials have been warned against creating public disputes over such technical matters.