‘Dead’ on draft list, councillor goes to crematorium
Times of India | 17 December 2025
Dankuni: Surya De, ward 18 councillor of Dankuni Municipality from Trinamool and a long-time resident of Chanditala assembly constituency, was shocked to find himself marked as ‘dead' by the Election Commission.
As a mark of protest, De, accompanied by his supporters, reached the Kalipur crematorium for his last rites and requested the Election Commission to perform it since they declared someone who is ‘alive and well' as ‘deceased'. This occurred moments after the commission published the list of deceased and relocated individuals based on the polling booths on Tuesday.
"A few of my aides called me and said that my name is featured as dead. At first, I did not believe it and thought that they were joking. Then I checked it myself and was shocked to see that I was declared dead by the Election Commission," De said. The councillor also mentioned that he filled out the enumeration form and submitted it to the BLO.
Despite this, he sees a ‘conspiracy' behind being listed as ‘deceased.' The TMC councillor's shock turned to anger, prompting him to declare at the Chanditala BDO office that he would march to the crematorium to conduct his last rites.
He stated, "I have walked to the Kalipur crematorium for my own funeral. I am a public representative, yet I have been shown as deceased. If a public representative, who is alive, can be declared dead like this by the joint effort of the Election Commission and BJP, then one can imagine what they can do in the case of ordinary people."
De also pointed out, "My name was not there in the deceased list that was there with the BLAs. I do not have any idea regarding the process." He blamed chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for the mistake. "I ask the chief election commissioner to come and burn me at the crematorium," he added. He further said they would move to Delhi to protest in front of the EC office.
De has already spoken to the BDO to rectify the mistake . "Till now, the names of my family members are there, but there are a few cases that are being reported in the ward where names of people have been deleted. I will hold a meeting with my colleagues regarding this," De said.