EC Summons Four Relatives of TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar in Bengal Voter Roll Revision
ECI calls four relatives for Bengal roll hearings.
Four family members of veteran Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar have been summoned by the Election Commission of India for hearings as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The affected relatives include her nonagenarian mother, sister, and two sons—all professionals in the medical field—whose names appeared on the "unmapped" voters list, failing to establish linkage with the 2002 electoral roll. Notices have been issued, with hearings commencing across the state on December 27, 2025, amid a broader exercise targeting approximately 32 lakh such voters.
The summons require the MP's mother to be verified at her residence by a Booth Level Officer due to her advanced age, while the sister and two sons must appear in person. The mother and sister are registered voters in the Barasat area within North 24 Parganas district, whereas the sons are enrolled in Kolkata constituencies. This development has placed the family among thousands facing scrutiny in the SIR process, designed to update and purify voter lists ahead of future elections.
Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, representing the Barasat Lok Sabha seat and serving as Trinamool's chief whip in Parliament, has strongly criticized the move, terming it deliberate harassment by the Election Commission. She highlighted the irony of her prominent family—sons of a former state minister and herself a long-serving MP—facing such proceedings, questioning the implications for ordinary citizens and alleging political motives to influence upcoming polls.
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The second phase of hearings unfolded at over 3,200 centers statewide, allowing affected voters to present any of 12 approved documents, including Aadhaar cards, for verification. Election officials maintain that the SIR aims to ensure accurate rolls by addressing unmapped entries, deaths, duplicates, and shifts, with no intent to disenfranchise genuine electors.
This incident has intensified political tensions surrounding the SIR in West Bengal, with opposition voices accusing the process of selective targeting, while the Commission emphasizes its role in maintaining electoral integrity. As hearings proceed, the outcome for high-profile cases like Ghosh Dastidar's family will be closely watched amid broader debates on voter rights and administrative transparency.
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