The Election Commission (EC) has issued a stern warning against the intimidation of electoral staff by political workers, emphasizing that such behavior will not be tolerated. This declaration comes amid concerns raised by political parties regarding the conduct of elections and the safety of personnel involved in the electoral process.

The EC's statement follows a meeting with a delegation from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), during which the party raised concerns about alleged discrepancies in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The TMC delegation, led by Abhishek Banerjee, expressed dissatisfaction with the responses received from Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of being "aggressive" and failing to adequately address their concerns. Banerjee alleged that the CEC was "weaponising" voter lists and claimed that instructions regarding the SIR process were being disseminated through informal channels like WhatsApp instead of official circulars.

In response to the TMC's allegations, the EC officials firmly stated that any attempts to threaten or intimidate electoral staff, including Booth Level Officers (BLOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), and Observers, by political representatives or workers would face strict action. The EC also urged the West Bengal government to promptly release the enhanced honorarium approved for BLOs.

The TMC has claimed that the "vote chori" (vote theft) is happening on electoral rolls and not through EVMs. They have appealed to other opposition parties to pay attention to the voter list and fight against electoral malpractices. Banerjee also questioned the "selective deployment" of micro-observers in West Bengal. He further claimed that when the EC objected to BLA-2 of parties being present in hearing of voters, he pointed out that if BLA-2 can sit in polling stations, why cannot they sit during hearings.

The EC's warning against intimidation of staff underscores its commitment to ensuring free and fair elections, safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process, and protecting those involved in its execution. The EC's firm stance is a message to all political parties and their workers that any attempt to undermine the electoral process through intimidation or coercion will be met with strict action.