Mamata Banerjee wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner on Monday seeking “immediate intervention” amid the ongoing revision of voter lists. The West Bengal Chief Minister flagged two issues and sought to know if the poll body was taking decisions to help “a political party”. Booth-level officers have recently led massive protests over ‘excessive work pressure’ — with multiple officials suffering cardiac arrests or even committing suicide.
The CM said she had recently come to know that existing contractual data entry operators were not being used for SIR-related activities — purportedly on instructions from the poll body. She noted that the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal had moved to outsource significant data work through a “questionable” request for proposal.
‘Vested interests’
“It has recently come to light that the CEO, West Bengal, has directed District Election Officers not to engage contractual data entry operators and Bangla Sahyata Kendra staff for SIR-related or other election-related data work. Simultaneously, the CEO’s office has floated a Request for Proposal for hiring 1,000 Data Entry Operators and 50 Software Developers for a period of one year,” the letter read.
Banerjee noted that such hiring was typically done by field offices or even DEOs themselves. She added that the timing and manner of this RfP raised “legitimate doubts” and wondered if the exercise was being undertaken to serve “vested interests”.
“What substantive difference is expected between those already engaged and others hired through the agency? Is this exercise being undertaken at the behest of a political party to serve vested interests?” she asked.
Polling within private housing complexes?
The two-point letter also flagged reports that the EC was considering the possibility of polling stations being located inside private residential complexes. Banerjee claimed that such locations would compromise fairness, violate established norms and create discriminatory distinctions between residents and the general public.
“This proposal is deeply problematic…why is such a move being contemplated at all? Is this being done under pressure from a political party to advance their partisan interests? Why? Why? Why?” she asked.
BLOs lead massive protest outside office of Bengal CEO
Booth-level officers (BLOs) engaged in the ongoing SIR process in West Bengal had altercations with police personnel on Monday while attempting to enter the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office here during a demonstration against alleged excessive work pressure, a senior officer said.
Members of the BLO Adhikar Raksha Committee marched from College Square in north Kolkata, carrying locks and fetters to symbolically close the main entrance of the building housing the CEO’s office.
High drama unfolded as a 10-member delegation — comprising four BLOs and six teachers or state government employees — entered the office of CEO Manoj Agarwal in the evening to submit their grievances. With the CEO absent, his deputy met them and accepted their memorandum.
However, as the delegation was leaving, one member alleged receiving a threat message for participating in the rally, prompting the group to launch an impromptu sit-in inside the office.
Amid the commotion, personnel of Kolkata Police and security staff at the CEO’s office physically lifted the protesters and removed them from the premises.