Those who were already here for Eid-ul-Fitr are extending their stay till Eid-ul-Adha, combining voting and festivals as polling will be held on April 23 and 29. Many of these people fear that if they don’t vote this time, after the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, they could be cateforised as “doubtful voters” and have their voter IDs cancelled. The trend is visible on the ground in places that have large numbers of locals working outside Bengal, especially in Maharashtra, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
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“The migrant workers are staying after Eid for the interim period of two-and-a-half months so that they can cast their votes and then return,” Parijayee Sharmik Aikya Manch (Migrant Labourer Unity Forum) general secretary Asif Faruk told ET. Some of them are staying back because procuring LPG cylinders has become difficult due to the Gulf crisis. Some also talked about pressure from Trinamool on them to return for voting.
Farjul Islam, who works at a construction site in Mumbai and is at home, said people like him need voter ID and Aadhaar for getting work in places like Navi Mumbai. “Though, we have been working in Maharashtra for years, contractors change and they may want to seek identity proof. So, voting in this election is essential,” he said. “We work outside and send money to our families. This is why we are able to build houses here,” said a local resident, who worked in Mumbai for 15 years before returning to his village.
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In Kaliachak area, Hossain Ali also has a similar story to tell. He came home during Eid with other migrant workers who work in Jharkhand. “We will go back after casting our votes,” Ali said. “We need to vote to retain our voter ID card after the SIR,” Ali added.
