Some died five years ago, some ten years ago, yet their names are still shining in the voter list. This time, the issue of ghost voters in Bankura district has heated up the political circles. A few days ago, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spoke out about the fake voter list at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata.

On her instructions, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leadership has started searching for fake voters in different blocks. In the meantime, an investigation has been conducted in two villages of Mankanali Gram Panchayat in Block No. 2 of Bankura and sensational information has come to light. It has been found that the names of 25 to 30 people are in the voter list of those two villages, all of whom are dead. The villagers claim that some of them died 5 years ago, and some 10 years ago.

Villagers’ complaint: Why are the names not being removed?

Locals allege that even though the family informed the gram panchayat about the death, only ration cards and other government benefits were stopped. But the names of those people were not removed from the voter list. The villagers are surprised and angry at this incident. Their question is, “How do the names of dead people remain in the voter list? Is there a political conspiracy behind this?”

Blaming among political parties
A heated debate has started among political parties over the names of dead voters remaining in the list. The Trinamool Congress claims that Left-wing activists still have influence in government offices. They have conspired with the BJP to keep the names of the dead in the voter list so that there is an opportunity for rigging in the vote. The Trinamool leadership said, “This is a conspiracy. We are taking strict action against it.”

In response, the Left Front claims that everyone in the state, which is under the control of the Trinamool and the BJP, knows about it. According to them, “Trinamool is a master at rigging votes. Now they are doing these dramas to save their image, but the people understand everything.” On the other hand, BJP has put the entire responsibility on the state government. According to them, “The Election Commission prepares the voter list through state government employees. If the names of the dead are not removed, then the responsibility lies with the Trinamool government.”

Pressure on voter list correction
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has taken a strong stand on the issue of fake voters. On her instructions, party leaders have launched investigations in different parts of the state. This incident in Bankura has further emphasized the need to correct the voter list. However, this incident has also raised questions about the role of the Election Commission. Among the mutual complaints of political parties, the common people demand that the names of the dead be removed from this list before the elections.

The entire state is keeping an eye on how this issue is resolved in the coming days and which party’s allegations are proven true.