Trinamool Congress Raises Alarm Over Voter Disenfranchisement Ahead of Elections
Parliamentary Notices Filed by TMC
New Delhi: Members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have submitted notices in both Houses of Parliament to address concerns regarding voter disenfranchisement, as reported on Monday.
In the Lok Sabha, prominent party figure Saugata Roy has filed an adjournment motion notice to initiate a discussion on this pressing matter. Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha, MPs Nadimul Haque and Saket Gokhale have also submitted notices under Rule 267.
This action comes amid rising opposition criticism regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in five states, including West Bengal, which are approaching Assembly elections.
The TMC has been particularly vocal against the execution of the SIR process.
West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been staging a protest in Kolkata since Friday, opposing the SIR initiative.
Official statistics released on February 28 indicate that approximately 63.66 lakh names, equating to about 8.3 percent of the electorate, have been removed since the SIR process commenced in West Bengal last November, leading to a decrease in the voter base from around 7.66 crore to just over 7.04 crore.
Additionally, over 60.06 lakh voters have been categorized as under adjudication, meaning their eligibility will undergo legal examination in the upcoming weeks, potentially altering the electoral landscape at the constituency level.
The second half of the Budget session in Parliament is anticipated to begin with significant tension on Monday, as the Lok Sabha is set to discuss an opposition-led resolution calling for the removal of Speaker Om Birla.
The ongoing conflict in West Asia is also expected to be a major topic, with the opposition already criticizing the government regarding its position on Iran and the US waiver concerning India's purchase of Russian oil, among other issues.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to address the Lok Sabha about the situation in West Asia, as per the updated agenda for the Lower House circulated on Sunday evening.