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Bengal BLOs Demand Security Amid Threats Over Voter List Revision

Booth Level Officers in West Bengal are demanding central security after receiving threats about voter list manipulation. They report being pressured to include names based solely on Aadhaar cards during the Special Intensive Revision process. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar has expressed concern about the situation, linking it to political tensions. The Election Commission has trained officials for the exercise, though an official notification is still pending amid opposition from the Trinamool Congress.

Key Points: Bengal BLOs Seek Central Security After Voter List Threats

  • BLOs report threats to include false names based on Aadhaar cards
  • Guns allegedly shown to intimidate election officials in Kolkata areas
  • Electoral Workers Unity Forum demands paramilitary force protection
  • BJP supports SIR to delete fake voters while TMC opposes deletions
2 min read

Bengal SIR: Several BLOs demand central security after receiving threats

Booth Level Officers in West Bengal demand paramilitary protection after receiving threats to include false names in voter lists during election revision process.

"The way the decision taken by the Election Commission was being threatened, especially by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, it is natural that such a situation would arise. - Sukanta Majumdar"

Kolkata, Oct 16

A section of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) on Thursday wrote a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, seeking deployment of paramilitary forces after receiving threats to include "false names" in the voter's list.

The BLOs, as part of the Electoral Workers Unity Forum, said they must be given security when they go to booth-level areas for election duty as part of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

They alleged that threats are coming from different places, even though the SIR notification was yet to be issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

According to ECI, the job of the BLOs is to visit every house in their assigned area to maintain and update the voter rolls. These door-to-door visits are a cornerstone of ensuring the accuracy and inclusivity of the electoral process. According to the complaints, the BLOs are being told beforehand that the names of those who have Aadhaar cards must be included in the voter's list. Many BLOs have objected to this.

Sources said it has been alleged that guns have been shown to intimidate some of them.

According to sources, places from which such complaints are being made in Kolkata are Gulshan Colony, Kidderpore and Kasba areas. It is alleged that pressure is being created to give them enumeration forms based on Aadhaar cards alone.

Reacting to the development, Union Minister of State for Education and DoNER, Sukanta Majumdar, said, "I had already expressed my concern regarding this. The way the decision taken by the Election Commission was being threatened, especially by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, it is natural that such a situation would arise."

The BJP has been demanding that the SIR of West Bengal's electoral rolls must be conducted to delete fake, false and illegal voters.

The Election Commission has already made preparations to carry out the exercise in Bengal and has held several meetings with district officials and BLOs, giving training on how to conduct the exercise.

However, an official notification in this regard is yet to be issued. The Trinamool Congress, on the other hand, has opposed this move and vowed to launch a massive protest movement if the name of a single legal voter is deleted from the voter's list.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
As someone from Kolkata, I've seen how political pressure works during elections. The EC must ensure free and fair electoral process. Central forces should be deployed immediately.
S
Sarah B
Why is Aadhaar being forced for voter registration? The Supreme Court has clearly stated Aadhaar is not mandatory for voting. This seems like an attempt to manipulate the voter list.
A
Arjun K
Clean voter list is essential for democracy. If BLOs are being threatened, it shows how desperate some parties are to maintain fake voters. EC should take strict action.
M
Michael C
While I support electoral reforms, I'm concerned about genuine voters being removed. There should be proper verification process and appeals mechanism for anyone whose name gets deleted.
K
Kavya N
Showing guns to election officials? This is absolutely unacceptable! These are government servants doing their duty. Strong action needed against those threatening them. 🙏
V
Vikram M
Both sides need to be responsible here. Political parties should stop making this a political football. Let the EC do its work without interference. Democracy is at stake.

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