Shami, Dev and the Weight of a Voter’s Name: SIR Notices Spark Political Storm in West Bengal

Kolkata: For Mohammed Shami, the cricket field has always been home — from dusty practice grounds to roaring international stadiums. For Dev, cinema halls and Parliament benches have shaped a life lived in the public eye. This week, however, both found themselves summoned not for sport or politics, but for something far more ordinary and deeply personal: the right to vote.

The Indian cricketer and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP were issued notices by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to appear for hearings under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. What is officially described as a routine verification exercise has quickly turned into a flashpoint, igniting political accusations and public unease.

Why Shami and Dev Were Called?

According to Election Commission officials, the notices were sent to verify voter details as part of a state-wide SIR process aimed at cleaning up electoral rolls — removing duplicate entries and ensuring accuracy ahead of future elections.

Shami’s hearing was scheduled for Monday, January 5, but he could not attend due to a prior commitment to a cricket tournament. Officials said a fresh date will be fixed. The hearing date for Dev, whose full name is Deepak Adhikari, has not yet been finalised. Three members of Dev’s family and Shami’s brother were also issued notices.

Election officials insist the process is administrative, neutral, and applies equally to all citizens.

Lives That Moved, Roots That Stayed

Shami was born in Uttar Pradesh but shifted permanently to West Bengal many years ago as his cricket career took shape. Kolkata became home, and he has been a long-time voter in the Jadavpur constituency — a fact well documented and widely known.

Dev’s journey is equally layered. Born in West Bengal’s Ghatal, he moved with his family to Mumbai for work before returning to Kolkata, where he rose to stardom in the Bengali film industry and later entered politics. Today, he represents Ghatal as a three-time Member of Parliament.

For supporters, the notices felt jarring — as if settled lives and well-known public records were suddenly under question.

A Wider Net Over Public Figures

Shami and Dev are not alone. Several prominent figures from West Bengal, including veteran poet Joy Goswami and actor Anirban Bhattacharya, have reportedly received similar SIR notices. Their inclusion has added to the sense that the exercise is sweeping broadly, touching cultural icons alongside ordinary citizens.What might otherwise have remained a bureaucratic footnote has thus taken on a human face — one familiar to millions.

Trinamool’s Charge: ‘Haste and Harassment’

The Trinamool Congress has sharply criticised the process, accusing the BJP-led central government and the Election Commission of harassment and administrative haste. Party leaders have cited confusion at hearing venues and questioned why long-standing voters are being summoned.

“This reflects unpreparedness and an absolutely inappropriate procedure,” said TMC State Vice President and spokesperson Jay Prakash Majumdar. He alleged that the hurried execution of the SIR process risks eroding the Election Commission’s credibility as an impartial body.

The West Bengal Chief Minister has written to the Chief Election Commissioner, urging either immediate rectification of what she termed “serious glitches” or a halt to the exercise.

Between Procedure and Trust

The Election Commission, for its part, maintains that the SIR is routine and essential to electoral integrity. Yet, with no official response so far from either Shami or Dev, public attention has shifted from procedure to perception.

At its heart, the controversy raises a larger question: when even celebrated cricketers and elected MPs must prove their place on the voter rolls, where does due diligence end and distrust begin?As hearings await rescheduling and political tempers simmer, West Bengal watches closely — reminded that democracy, at its core, rests not only on rules and rolls, but on the faith of those whose names appear on them.