West Bengal polls: VIP treatment for 104-year-old who fought SIR & won

JAMALPUR (EAST BURDWAN): Sk Ibrahim, the 104-year-old who has cast his vote in every election since Independence, kept his date with democracy on Wednesday as well.

However, the EC had initially placed his name under adjudication on the final voters' list, published on Feb 28, because of a "discrepancy" in his name — it appeared as Sk Ibrahim on the 2002 voters' list and Ibrahim Sk on the 2025 roll. But after days of anxiety and uncertainty, his name eventually appeared on the first supplementary list.





However, the delay meant he missed the EC's vote-from-home window for 85-plus citizens. Ibrahim, though, was insistent that he vote. His insistence moved the East Burdwan administration, which provided him with a vehicle and a wheelchair so he could visit the polling booth and vote on Wednesday. He was driven to the spot and wheeled into the booth under Jamalpur assembly constituency. He cast his vote with the support of his son, Sk Bagbul Islam.

Speaking to TOI, Ibrahim said, "I feel very happy to be able to vote. I don't understand why my name had been suddenly removed from the electoral roll. But I am a valid voter and was born in Batrishbigha village."

The "doubtful voter" status tagged to his name had left Ibrahim and his family, residents of East Burdwan's Jamalpur, distressed. When reporters had approached him after the publication of the final voters' list, he had shot back, "Is it a crime to live beyond 100 years?"

The discrepancy in his voter listing was resolved following a scrutiny of his documents.

"I prayed to Allah every day for the inclusion of my name on the list. Allah has granted my wish. I am very happy," Ibrahim told TOI.

But the joy of being recognised as an elector again failed to assuage the hurt. "My name should not have gone into adjudication in the first place. Why this happened is a question. Surely, I did not deserve this at this stage in life," he said.

Sk Faruk, Ibrahim's second son, said they learned from the panchayat office that five members of their family have been included on the first supplementary list. "Our names, including my father's, were under adjudication. Our BLO helped us submit all necessary documents. We are happy that our names have now been included," he said.

Notably, even at the age of 104, Ibrahim retains physical and mental sharpness. He can see clearly without glasses and reads newspapers and books daily. He also maintains a diary, writing regularly. He reportedly remembers the names of all his medicines and details of his medical reports, and keeps a daily record of his expenses.
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