A political delegation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) visited the office of West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer in Kolkata on Monday, an event that unfolded amidst loud protests by electoral staff members. The delegation, headed by the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, arrived to discuss matters related to the ongoing revision of voter lists.
Delegation's Agenda Meets Protesters' Demands
The primary purpose of the BJP delegation's scheduled visit was to hold discussions with top election officials regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise of the electoral rolls currently underway in the state. Adhikari, accompanied by several BJP MLAs, sought to convey the party's concerns about the process.
However, their arrival at the CEO's office was met with a parallel demonstration. Members of the BLO Adhikar Raksha Committee had gathered outside, continuing their protest against what they describe as an excessive and unsustainable workload during the SIR drive. The protesters attempted to breach police barricades and raised slogans as the BJP leaders entered the building.
Core Issues Behind the BLO Agitation
The protesting Booth Level Officer (BLO) forum members have put forth two central demands to the election authorities. First, they are seeking a two-month extension for the deadline to complete the Special Intensive Revision exercise, citing the immense pressure and volume of work involved.
Secondly, the forum is demanding compensation for the families of BLOs who have died while performing their duties. They argue that the strenuous nature of the current revision process has contributed to health issues and fatalities, warranting financial support for the affected families.
Parallel Proceedings Inside the Office
While the protests continued outside, the BJP delegation proceeded with its meeting inside the office. Suvendu Adhikari and the BJP MLAs held discussions with Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal and Special Roll Observer Subrata Gupta. The meeting focused on the BJP's specific apprehensions about the electoral roll revision process in West Bengal.
The protests by the BLO members persisted throughout the duration of the opposition leaders' meeting with the electoral officials, highlighting the twin pressures facing the state's election machinery: political scrutiny and ground-level staff grievances.
The incident underscores the heightened political activity and administrative challenges in West Bengal as election-related preparations intensify. The dual focus—political parties vetting the process and frontline election workers demanding better working conditions—sets the stage for a complex electoral environment in the state.
