**Title:** Controversy Erupts Over Electoral Roll Mix-Up in West Bengal
**Meta Description:** Atish Aziz claims a surname error in electoral rolls has sparked political controversy, raising questions about the integrity of the revision process.
**URL Slug:** electoral-roll-mix-up-west-bengal
**Headline:** Political Controversy Arises from Electoral Roll Errors in West Bengal
Atish Aziz, the son of Md Salim, the state secretary of the CPI(M) in West Bengal, has raised concerns over a significant error in the draft electoral rolls published by the Election Commission. Aziz, a registered voter in the Kolkata Port Assembly constituency, discovered that the Hindu surname ‘Awasthi’ had been erroneously added to both his name and that of his father, igniting a political controversy.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Aziz expressed his dismay at the mix-up, stating, “My name is Atish Aziz.” Upon reviewing the draft electoral rolls, he was surprised to find the incorrect surname attached to his name, as well as to his father’s. He emphasized the implications of such an error, noting, “My father has been a politician for decades. If such an error can happen in his case, one can only imagine what might have happened to others.”
Aziz further questioned the rationale behind the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which reportedly cost crores of rupees, if basic inaccuracies like this can occur. He pointed out that while some media outlets and the BJP have suggested that the SIR process would be used to target Muslims, the Election Commission inadvertently transformed both him and his father into Brahmins by adding the surname Awasthi.
To support his claims, Aziz shared images of the draft electoral rolls, highlighting the erroneous surname next to both his and his father’s names. He has informed the CPI(M)’s booth-level agent in the area, who is currently addressing the issue with the Chief Electoral Officer’s office.
The draft electoral rolls were published on December 16, following the completion of the digitization of enumeration form data, marking the first phase of the SIR exercise.
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: What is the significance of the electoral roll mix-up involving Atish Aziz?**
A: The mix-up raises concerns about the accuracy of the electoral roll revision process and highlights potential issues that could affect many voters, prompting questions about the integrity of the electoral system.
