EC Clears Air on Shami's Voter Form: 'Linkage Columns Blank' Led to Hearing

• The Election Commission clarified that cricketer Mohammed Shami's voter registration form issue is a standard administrative procedure to rectify clerical mistakes.
• A hearing was necessitated because 'linkage columns' in Shami’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) form were left blank by the elector.
• Shami and his brother, Mohammed Kaif, incorrectly filled out the enumeration form, leading to the formal verification hearing.
• Shami's initial hearing conflicted with his Vijay Hazare Trophy commitments in Rajkot, prompting authorities to reschedule it for January 9-11.
• Despite hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Shami is a long-term resident and registered voter in West Bengal, specifically ward 93 of Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

Why It Matters: EC confirms Mohammed Shami's voter form hearing is routine to correct blank linkage columns.