Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 31: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday issued a stern warning that any attempt to threaten or obstruct election officials involved in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal will not be tolerated.
Sources said the message was firmly conveyed to a Trinamool Congress delegation led by party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee during their meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi. The delegation had met the Commission to raise concerns over the conduct of the SIR exercise.
The warning comes in the wake of reports from several parts of West Bengal where hearings on claims and objections to the draft voters’ list were allegedly disrupted or forcibly halted. There have also been instances of unrest surrounding the movement of a special roll observer appointed by the ECI to oversee the revision process in the state.
According to Commission sources, the ECI has made it clear that any individual or group attempting to interfere with statutory electoral processes or take the law into their own hands will face strict action. The Commission underlined that Electoral Registration Officers, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers, Booth-Level Officers and election observers must be allowed to perform their duties without fear or pressure.
The ECI also impressed upon the Trinamool Congress leadership the need to ensure that its local-level functionaries do not engage in intimidation or obstruction of election officials during the revision exercise.
In recent days, the names of two Trinamool Congress MLAs—Asit Majumdar and Ashima Patra—and state minister Udayan Guha have surfaced in connection with allegations that they were involved in disrupting hearings, reportedly insisting that party booth-level agents be allowed to remain present during the proceedings.
Sources further said the Commission made it clear that objections to its decision to establish polling booths inside private housing complexes would not be accepted and that the plan would be implemented as scheduled.
Separately, the ECI has directed the West Bengal government to immediately disburse the enhanced honorarium for Booth-Level Officers, as already approved by the Commission.