Nobel laureate Amartya Sen served EC notice, sparking political row in Bengal

The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday issued a notice to Nobel laureate Amartya Sen , 92, in connection with the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, seeking a hearing at his Santiniketan, Bolpur residence on January 16 , officials said. Sen is currently abroad, and the notice was served to a family member at his ancestral home.

The notice was issued due to a minor “logical discrepancy” in Sen’s enumeration form: the age difference between him and his mother, as recorded in the form, was found to be less than 15 years , prompting the EC to seek clarification. A senior official at the office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) clarified that only one notice has been issued , and as Sen is above 85 years, a Booth Level Officer (BLO) will visit his residence to conduct the hearing, in accordance with EC rules.

Sen’s cousin confirmed receiving the notice and said he would inform the economist about the development. The EC emphasised that minor discrepancies like spelling errors or age differences are routine and do not affect a voter’s eligibility or rights .

The notice has sparked a political storm . The Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongly criticised the move, calling it a “ shameful farce ” and alleging that the EC and BJP were pursuing a “Bangla-Birodhi (anti-Bengal) agenda.” TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said serving SIR notices to eminent personalities like Sen is tantamount to “insulting the people of Bengal.”

In a statement on social media, the TMC highlighted Sen’s global stature: “ A Nobel laureate should be above any suspicion, right? But what if he's a Bengali? Then he'll be slapped with hearing notices as if he were some common criminal. ” The party accused authorities of attempting to “drag our icons through the mud” and undermine Bengal’s pride.

Amartya Sen , a globally celebrated economist and philosopher, won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998 for his work on welfare economics, social choice theory, and human development. His research has influenced policy-making and academic studies worldwide, and he remains one of India’s most respected intellectuals.

While the notice is primarily administrative , it has raised public debate over the transparency and impartiality of the SIR process . Experts say that sending such notices to senior citizens and prominent figures, even for minor errors, can create perceptions of political targeting and affect trust in the electoral system , especially in politically sensitive regions.

The next steps involve Sen or his family providing clarification or documentation, such as proof of birth dates, to the BLO visiting his residence. Once verified, the EC can correct the record and close the notice , with no impact on his voter eligibility.