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West Bengal's Voter List Battle: Why More Officers and CAPF Are Needed

The West Bengal CEO's office has asked the Election Commission for permission to bring in assistant officers to help manage voter list hearings. They've also requested central forces to provide security for their office, which has seen regular protests. These protests, linked to a Trinamool Congress-backed group, have raised concerns about local police control. All this is happening as the state prepares for its crucial assembly elections, with the final voter list due in February.

Key Points: Bengal CEO Seeks ECI Permission for AERO Assistance in Voter Hearings

  • CEO office seeks ECI nod for AEROs to assist EROs in voter list hearings
  • ECI requests CAPF deployment to secure Kolkata office amid protests
  • Final electoral roll for Bengal slated for announcement on February 14
  • Protests by TMC-backed booth officers prompt central security request
2 min read

Bengal SIR: CEO's office seeks ECI's permission for more assistance at hearing sessions

West Bengal CEO office requests ECI to allow assistant officers for voter list hearings and seeks CAPF security amid protests. Final list due Feb 14.

"If the permission...is available...the hearing sessions will be handled by the 10 EROs assisted by 10 AEROs. - CEO's office insider"

Kolkata, Dec 19

The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal has sought the permission of the Election Commission of India (ECO) to allow assistant electoral registration officers (AEROs) to assist the electoral registration officers (EROs) during the hearing sessions on the claims and objections on the draft voters’ list which was published on December 16.

Initially, it was decided that 10 EROs would handle the hearing session for each of the 294 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal. However, insiders from the CEO’s office pointed out that, considering the huge number of voters in each constituency who would be summoned for hearings, there is consideration to allow AEROs to assist the EROs in those sessions.

“If the permission on this count is available from the ECI’s headquarters in New Delhi, in that case, the hearing sessions will be handled by the 10 EROs assisted by 10 AEROs,” a CEO’s office insider said.

Meanwhile, the Commission had also sent a request to the Union Home Ministry for the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to secure the CEO’s office in central Kolkata immediately.

It is learnt that, as per the ECI’s proposal, the CAPF deployment will continue till the time the model code of conduct is enforced in the state after the dates for the crucial Assembly elections in the state are announced.

The final voters’ list is slated to be announced on February 14 next year, and immediately after that, the dates for the Assembly elections in the state will be announced.

The request for deployment of CAPF has been made amid continuing protests by the members of a Trinamool Congress-backed association of booth-level officers (BLOs) in front of the CEO’s office almost daily.

With the agitations at times getting out of control, the CEO’s office insider said, the ECI is not happy with the role played by the state police forces personnel in controlling the agitations, and hence the request for CAPF deployment to man the security at the CEO’s office has been forwarded to the Union Home Ministry.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
The request for CAPF is concerning. If state police can't be trusted to manage protests at the CEO's office, what does that say about the overall law and order situation? Elections must be free and fair, and security is non-negotiable.
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Priyanka N
Daily protests by BLOs? This is creating unnecessary tension. The voter list revision is a crucial democratic exercise. All parties should cooperate and let the ECI officials do their job without pressure. 🙏
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Arjun K
Finally some practical thinking! Adding AEROs is a no-brainer. Hope the ECI in Delhi approves it quickly. We need a smooth process leading up to Feb 14. The integrity of the electoral roll is everything.
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Michael C
While I support measures for efficiency, the central force deployment till MCC enforcement feels like a very long period. It's a significant cost. Is there no middle ground for phased security?
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Shreya B
As a Bengali, I just want peaceful elections. All this drama around the CEO's office is embarrassing for the state. Let the officials work, let people get their names on the list, and let us vote in peace. Bas.

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