TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar | File Image

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday rejected allegations made by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, stating that her claims were “misleading” and that there was no linkage suggesting the deletion of her family members’ names from the electoral draft rolls.

In a brief response, the poll panel said that the enumeration forms prepared during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal clearly show that the names in question exist and have not been removed.

The ECI said the concerned individuals were called for hearings strictly in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Commission’s notification governing the SIR exercise.

The clarification came after Dastidar, the TMC’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha, alleged that four of her family members were being harassed by the Election Commission and that their names were missing from the draft electoral roll published after the SIR enumeration process.

Hearings under the ongoing SIR exercise began on Saturday, triggering a political confrontation between the ruling TMC and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Dastidar said her mother Ira Mitra, sister Piyali Mitra, and her sons Biswanath and Baidyanath had been summoned.

She claimed the move reflected political targeting and said that if any documents were required, her family would submit them.

Local Booth Level Officer Kapil Ananda Haldar, however, said the names of the individuals appeared in the draft roll.

He explained that hearings are convened when there are discrepancies or corrections needed in the enumeration forms.

According to him, Piyali Mitra has been asked to appear on December 31, while Ira Mitra has been called on January 8 with supporting documents.

Meanwhile, TMC leaders escalated their criticism of the poll panel.

State minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, who led a five-member party delegation to meet West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal, accused the ECI of exceeding its mandate and alleged an attempt to delete a large number of voters from the rolls.

The BJP, however, defended the Commission’s actions. Union minister Sukanta Majumdar said the ECI was carrying out its constitutional duty to ensure a clean and accurate voters’ list.

He alleged that the TMC was opposing the process out of fear that the removal of fake or illegal voters would hurt its electoral prospects.