Headline: Election Roll Revision Visit to Amartya Sen’s Bolpur Residence Highlights Administrative Process
Headline: Election officials recently visited the Bolpur residence of renowned economist and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen in West Bengal’s Birbhum district to complete formal procedures linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The visit was part of a routine verification process and involved the collection of essential documents required under the ongoing voter list revision exercise being conducted across the state.
Background of the Electoral Roll Revision Process
The Special Intensive Revision, commonly known as SIR, is a structured process undertaken periodically to ensure that electoral rolls remain accurate and updated. This exercise includes verification of personal details, removal of discrepancies, and confirmation of eligibility for registered voters. According to election authorities, the initiative is aimed at maintaining transparency and accuracy in the democratic framework, particularly ahead of future elections in West Bengal.
Visit to the Pratichi Residence in Bolpur
Election officials arrived at Pratichi, the ancestral home of Amartya Sen located in Bolpur, to collect documents relevant to the revision process. Family members confirmed that officials followed standard procedures during the visit. The documents collected included Sen’s Aadhaar card details, his voter identity card number, and the death certificate of his mother, Amita Sen. These documents were required to address specific queries raised during the scrutiny of electoral records.
Authorization for Representation During Hearing
As Amartya Sen is currently residing in the United States, where he serves as a Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard University, he was unable to be present for the scheduled hearing. To ensure compliance with the process, he issued an authorization letter allowing his cousin, Shantabhanu Sen, to represent him during any SIR-related proceedings. Election officials collected this authorization letter as part of the documentation.
Notice Issued by the Election Commission
The Election Commission issued a formal notice to Sen requesting a hearing in connection with the SIR exercise. The notice proposed January 16 as the date for the hearing at his Santiniketan residence. According to officials from the state’s Chief Electoral Officer’s office, the notice was generated after a discrepancy was detected in the enumeration form submitted earlier.
Explanation of the Reported Discrepancy
The discrepancy related to the linking of Amartya Sen’s name with that of his mother, Amita Sen, in a manner that reflected an age difference of less than fifteen years. This inconsistency was flagged through the ERO Net Portal, a digital platform used by election authorities to monitor and verify voter data. Officials clarified that such notices are generated automatically in similar cases to ensure that records are corrected after due verification.
Response from the Chief Electoral Officer’s Office
Officials from the Chief Electoral Officer’s office emphasized that the procedure followed in Sen’s case was consistent with established norms. Given that the elector is over 85 years of age, senior election officials, including the Electoral Registration Officer, Assistant Electoral Registration Officer, and Booth Level Officer, personally visited his residence to complete the necessary formalities. This approach is often adopted to minimize inconvenience for elderly voters.
Voting History and Electoral Status
Amartya Sen has been a registered voter for several years and has actively participated in the democratic process. Records indicate that he cast his vote during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections at the Visva Bharati Staff Club polling station, which is associated with Visva Bharati. His participation underscores his long-standing association with the electoral system in the region.
Current Listing in the Draft Electoral Roll
In the draft electoral roll prepared as part of the 2026 SIR exercise, Sen’s name appears under the Prabasi Bharatiya category, which is designated for non-resident voters. His entry is listed as Part 274, Serial 169. Election officials noted that such categorization reflects current residency status and does not affect voting rights, provided all verification requirements are fulfilled.
Broader Significance of the Exercise
The visit to Sen’s residence highlights the comprehensive nature of the electoral revision process being undertaken by the Election Commission of India. Authorities reiterated that the same procedures apply uniformly to all voters, regardless of public stature. The ongoing exercise in West Bengal aims to strengthen the integrity of electoral data and ensure that future elections are conducted on the basis of accurate and verified voter information.