A controversy has erupted in West Bengal after Nobel laureate Amartya Sen was reportedly issued a notice by the Election Commission (EC) for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing due to a spelling error in his enumeration form. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has reacted strongly, alleging political motivation and accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using the EC to target prominent Bengali figures.
According to EC sources, the notice sent to Amartya Sen was the result of a technical discrepancy arising from a spelling error in his name, leading to a mismatch in the computer system. This triggered an automatically generated SIR notice. The EC has clarified that Sen will not be required to appear in person and that the issue will be resolved by the Booth Level Officer (BLO) concerned. The commission reportedly took swift corrective action upon being informed of the error.
TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee has accused the Election Commission of targeting citizens of West Bengal, calling the development "sad" and politically motivated. Addressing a rally, Banerjee, who is the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleged a "BJP–ECI nexus" and claimed that prominent Bengalis were being harassed under the pretext of voter list revision. He questioned how a person like Amartya Sen, who has brought global recognition to the country, could be asked to appear for an SIR hearing. Banerjee stated that notices were also sent to cricketer Mohammed Shami and actor Dev, viewing it as an attempt to discredit and harass everyone. He urged party workers to ensure a sweeping victory for the TMC in the upcoming Assembly elections.
The SIR process in West Bengal, which began on December 16, 2025, has been a subject of controversy. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to the Chief Election Commissioner, expressing concerns over procedural lapses and alleged violations of due process. Over 58 lakh names were reportedly deleted from the SIR draft rolls published in December. The final voter list for West Bengal is scheduled to be published on February 14.
Amid the uproar, a family member of Amartya Sen told PTI that they had not yet received any hearing notice from the Commission. An EC official stated that the confusion over the spelling is purely technical and has no bearing on the voter's eligibility. The official added that officials have been instructed to resolve such matters at the administrative level to prevent unnecessary controversy. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have the authority to correct minor errors, including spelling mistakes in voter names, and the correction in Sen's case will be handled administratively at the local level.
The BJP has dismissed the TMC's allegations, with a BJP leader stating that the TMC is making these allegations to divert public attention. They believe that the TMC is sensing a loss of ground and is resorting to conspiracy theories.
The Election Commission has identified a large number of voters with "logical discrepancies". While the initial figure was 1.36 crore, it has been revised to 93 lakhs after hearings across the state. The current controversy highlights the sensitivity surrounding the electoral process in West Bengal and the potential for even minor administrative errors to ignite political tensions.
