Supplementary list: Relief for some, long-term worry for others

Kolkata: The first supplementary list published late on Monday night brought relief to some electors who cleared the judicial scrutiny. But the anxiety continued for most of the electors still placed under adjudication as they could not find their names. With no knowledge if they managed to clear the adjudication test, these voters are waiting for the next supplementary list slated to be released on Friday.Ballygunge resident Anubhav Das, an MBBS student at SSKM Hospital, heaved a sigh of relief when he found that his name made it to the electoral roll. Though he didn't get any hearing call, he was shocked to find his name on ‘under adjudication' list.Like Das, Siddiq Azam Khan also got respite from the anxiety following inclusion of his name in the supplementary list. Along with his two other family members, he was placed under adjudication. "Three members of our family whose names were under adjudication have cleared the test.But there is a portion there stating that I can appeal to the tribunal if I am aggrieved. Why will I be upset to find my name on the list?," Khan asked.Md Nazmul Islam Khan, a resident of New Town, found that his name was on the list, but he remained in the dark about the fate of his mother and brother. "There was a mistake in my name, in which I had no role. It was a simple error made by a person while entering my name in the voter list. Why should I face harassment because of a careless mistake made by the administration?"he asked.There are others who didn't find their names on the list. Dipali Mal, who works as a domestic help at a residence in Shyambazar, said: "I have been working here for years, although my village is in Birbhum. I am a voter in this area, but my name was sent for adjudication. I am very anxious as I don't know how to check my name."Ananta Ghosh, another voter from the Shyampukur area, was also clueless about her status as a voter after the publication of the first supplementary list. He said, "On Friday, I did not try to access the list, but today many of my friends whose names are under adjudication said that the website was not working. I contacted the BLO, who was unable to give any answer."Not only voters, party workers, too, faced the same problem throughout the day while trying to download the list for their respective constituencies. A TMC worker in Cossipore-Belgachhia said, "Here, over 5,000 voters were under adjudication, but we couldn't download the list as the website was not working."Md Mustafa, a New Town resident, is still waiting to see his name on the list. "In my family, I, along with my mother, are under adjudication. This is an exceptional situation."Professor and social worker Afroza Khatun, an elector from Survey Park, said: "In the 2002 roll, my name was spelt as ‘Akroz'. I attended the hearing and submitted numerous documents. But I found my name on adjudication list without any mistake of mine. This is nothing but harassment."