Amid rising concerns and a heated dispute over the deaths of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), the Election Commission (EC) has agreed to meet with leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Friday, November 28, at 11 am. This decision comes in the wake of escalating tensions surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal and other states.
The TMC has been vocal in its criticism of the SIR process, alleging that it is being conducted in a "rushed, haphazard and opaque manner". Senior TMC leaders, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, have expressed grave concerns about the management and human costs associated with the SIR exercise. Banerjee has questioned whether the EC's actions are being conducted "at the behest of a political party to serve vested interests". She had previously appealed to the Commission to halt the revision, citing distress and suicides among BLOs involved in the process.
The meeting was requested by TMC leader Derek O'Brien. The EC has stated that it welcomes regular interaction with political parties for constructive dialogue and has decided to grant the TMC's request. The TMC delegation will consist of its authorized representative and four additional members. While the specific agenda of the meeting remains undisclosed, it is anticipated that the TMC will emphasize the issue of BLO deaths and the overall impact of the SIR process. The Commission will likely discuss election preparedness and address party-specific grievances.
The backdrop to this meeting is the recent reports of BLOs deaths, allegedly due to work-related stress. TMC has alleged that BLOs were falling sick and that some died by suicide due to stress. According to reports, a Block Level Officer in Nadia committed suicide, with the Election Commission being held responsible. Mamata Banerjee has stated that she was not against SIR, but more time should have been allotted for the exercise and that the ECI should have engaged data entry operators.
The Election Commission has taken cognizance of the matter. Following an audio recording of a Booth Level Officer expressing work-related stress, the EC addressed the BLO's grievances via video conference. The Chief Electoral Officer assured that all necessary support would be extended to him to ensure the smooth discharge of his duties.
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is currently underway across 12 states and Union territories, including West Bengal. The TMC has raised concerns about the deletion of names from voter lists during the SIR process. They allege that in some areas, hundreds of longtime voters have been wiped out, and entire sections have vanished. The TMC has called for transparency in the SIR process to safeguard the rights of voters.
The meeting between the EC and TMC leaders on Friday is expected to be a crucial dialogue, potentially shaping the future course of the SIR process and addressing the concerns raised by the TMC. The outcome of the meeting remains to be seen, but it signifies an important step towards addressing the escalating tensions surrounding the electoral roll revision in West Bengal.
