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West Bengal SIR Live: After Bihar, Election Commission has now started Special Intensive Revision i.e. SIR in other states. This also includes West Bengal, where assembly elections are to be held next year. The Election Commission says that this campaign is being run to update the voter list, while the opposition parties are terming it as ‘vote theft’. SIR: At present the political temperature is hot in West Bengal.
West Bengal SIR Live: In West Bengal, the Election Commission has launched a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign to correct the voter list. Many such pictures are emerging from the border districts of Bengal, in which illegal Bangladeshis can be seen crossing the border. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleges that vote-cutting is being done through this. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party have openly opened a front against the Commission. TMC representatives have also met the Chief Election Commissioner in this regard. Mamata Banerjee’s party openly said that the Election Commission’s hands are stained with blood. In fact, TMC claims that since the launch of SIR, there have been 40 deaths, including those of Booth Level Officers (BLO). On the other hand, in response to this allegation, the Election Commission has written a letter to the DGP of West Bengal and the Police Commissioner of Kolkata asking them to ensure the security of BLOs.
The conflict between the Election Commission (EC) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in West Bengal has intensified. During the meeting with the EC on Friday, TMC alleged that there have been 40 deaths linked to SIR so far, including those of Booth Level Officers (BLOs). The party has made serious allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and his associates. TMC leader and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien said that the delegation asked five important questions to the EC but not a single answer was received. TMC MP claims that CEC Gyanesh Kumar talked for an hour. Derek O’Brien said the party does not oppose SIR, but is opposed to its disorganized and ruthless methods.
What answer did EC give?
Responding to TMC’s allegations, the Election Commission called them baseless and unfounded. CEC said that the pressure on BLOs during SIR is not due to work, but is the result of pressure and threats being exerted by local political workers (especially TMC workers). The Election Commission claims that TMC workers want that the names of dead, transferred or duplicate voters should not be removed. CEC Gyanesh Kumar also clarified that the work of BLOs in SIR is only to distribute and collect Enumeration Forms (EF). Voters who cannot be reached by BLOs can take signatures on the form and such names will be checked later when the draft roll comes. He also reiterated that under Article 326 of the Indian Constitution, only Indian citizens are eligible to vote, not foreigners.
What instructions to the police?
Following the recent security breach, the EC directed the Kolkata Police Commissioner to shift the office of the State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to a more secure location. It was also asked to strengthen the security of the current office. Ignoring TMC’s objections, the EC asked all District Election Officers (DEOs) to set up polling stations in slum areas, high-rise residential buildings and colonies as is being done in other states and union territories of the country. The Commission warned that strict action can be taken if the instructions are not followed. The Election Commission has given a clear message that the preparation of voter list will be done as per the laws and the political parties, especially TMC, will have to follow them. At the same time, TMC is adamant on its allegations, due to which there are signs of increasing conflict regarding the SIR process.
