Mayor expresses confidence despite large-scale deletions flagged during Special Summary Revision process
Referring to reports that nearly 64,000 names are set to be removed from the voter list in his constituency, Hakim said such measures would not affect his political standing. “They cannot defeat me by removing names from the list. No one has been born in the BJP who can defeat me in the Kolkata Port Assembly constituency,” he remarked, underscoring his belief in continued public support.
However, developments on the ground suggest a more complex situation. At the outset of the SSR process, complaints began surfacing from a section of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in the port area. These officials alleged that attempts were being made to forcibly include the names of deceased voters in the electoral rolls. Some BLOs also claimed they were threatened with death if they did not comply, prompting demands for security.
Subsequently, after enumeration forms were submitted, sources within the Election Commission indicated that the scale of deletions was substantial. In two Kolkata Assembly constituencies—Chowringhee and Jorasanko—the names of approximately one in every three voters are reportedly being removed from the list. In addition, in nine other Assembly constituencies across the city, nearly one in every five voters is expected to be deleted.
Political observers note that such large-scale revisions are a cause for concern for the ruling party, as they could have electoral implications in several key constituencies. While Hakim has publicly downplayed the impact and maintained an assertive stance, the unfolding voter list revisions and the allegations raised during the SSR process continue to draw attention and scrutiny in the city’s political landscape.