Declared ‘dead’ in draft rolls, TMC councillor walks into crematorium, demands own last rites

Kolkata, Dec 16 (PTI) A Trinamool Congress councillor on Tuesday walked into a crematorium near Kolkata and demanded that his last rites be performed, claiming that the Election Commission listed him among the “dead” in the draft electoral rolls.

A booth-wise list of the deceased and migrated voters was released ahead of West Bengal's draft electoral rolls earlier in the day.

Surya Dey, the TMC councillor of Dankuni Municipality's Ward 18, said that while checking the lists linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, he claimed his name figured among the "dead", though he had filled and submitted his enumeration form to the booth-level officer.

"Since the Commission has declared me dead, it should complete the process," Dey told reporters as he walked into Kalipur crematorium, flanked by supporters. "Let the officials come and cremate me." He called this administrative absurdity with serious consequences.

"I am an elected public representative. If I can be shown dead on paper while I am very much alive, imagine what can happen to ordinary voters," he said.

He held Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar responsible for what he termed a "conspiracy" behind the deletion.

Dey asserted he had complied with every procedural requirement under the SIR, submitting forms and documents during the enumeration drive.

"Despite that, I have been struck off. This is not a clerical error; this is dangerous," he alleged.

The episode quickly travelled from the crematorium to social media.

TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty, in a Facebook post, said, "Dankuni Municipality Ward 18 councillor Surya Dey, resident of Chanditala Assembly constituency. Serial number 40, Booth number 226. According to the voter list on Tuesday, he is dead. Is this SIR or a farce?" The Election Commission has not responded to the specific allegation.

The incident comes on a politically charged day, with the EC on Tuesday publishing West Bengal's draft electoral rolls following the Special Intensive Revision exercise, deleting over 58 lakh names on grounds ranging from death and migration to duplication and non-submission of enumeration forms.

According to official data, 58,20,898 names were excluded, reducing the electorate from 7.66 crore to 7.08 crore after the SIR process conducted between November 4 and December 11.

The deletions have affected several high-profile assembly segments and sharpened political fault lines, setting the stage for the contentious verification and hearing phase ahead of state elections due early next year.

Standing at the crematorium, the TMC councillor underlined the point he wanted to remember, even if the rolls had erased him.

"I walked here myself," he said. "I am breathing, talking, protesting. If this is how voters are being treated, democracy itself is being taken to the pyre." PTI PNT NN