Tensions between the Election Commission of India and West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress reached a new peak on Monday, leading to the suspension of Special Summary Revision (SIR) hearings in multiple districts and an attack on an EC official's vehicle. The flashpoint was the EC's decision to bar Booth-Level Agents (BLAs) nominated by political parties from attending the revision proceedings.
Protests and Attack on EC Official
The situation turned volatile in South 24-Parganas district, where special roll observer C Murugan came under attack during a field visit to Mograhat I and II blocks. Protesters surrounded his vehicle, banged on the car, and damaged the handle lock of a door. Murugan, an IAS officer tasked with supervising the SIR in South 24 Parganas and Kolkata South Lok Sabha constituency, remained defiant.
"I came to do my job and I will do it. What do I have to fear? I am an IAS officer. I have come here on EC’s instructions. It is the administration’s responsibility to provide me with security," Murugan stated firmly after the incident.
The EC has asked Murugan to submit a detailed report on the attack. State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal confirmed that the Director General of Police, Rajeev Kumar, and the South 24 Parganas District Magistrate have also been directed to send their reports. Special roll observer Subrata Gupta said they had obtained footage of the incident for submission to the Commission.
Hearings Suspended Amid BLA Exclusion Protests
Parallel protests erupted in Hooghly and West Midnapore districts, forcing authorities to pause the crucial SIR hearings. In Hooghly's Chinsurah-Mogra block office, hearings were suspended after TMC MLA Asit Mazumdar strongly objected to the exclusion of BLAs.
"Unless BLAs are allowed or officials give in writing that they will not be allowed, we will not allow the hearings," Mazumdar told reporters. Following his statement, the gates of the block office were closed, preventing public entry. The hearings resumed later only after the District Magistrate and other officials intervened following a directive from the EC.
In Midnapore, the hearing at the DM's office was halted for over 40 minutes after BLAs barged into the venue demanding entry. The process was paused as officials tried, unsuccessfully, to remove them from the hearing room.
EC's Stern Stance and TMC's Legal Threat
The Election Commission maintained a firm position on the issue. CEO Manoj Agarwal clarified that BLAs are not permitted inside hearing rooms, a rule consistent with practices in Bihar and other states conducting the SIR exercise.
"Tomorrow, if a student or anyone wants to be allowed in the hearing room, what can I do? EC’s instructions are clear and only ERO, AERO, BLO, BLO supervisor, micro-observer and voter can enter the hearing room," Agarwal elaborated. He also dismissed the possibility of virtual hearings, a demand raised by Trinamool, stating the EC has no provision for it.
Responding to the crisis, a five-member TMC delegation met the CEO. Party spokesperson Partha Bhowmik issued a legal ultimatum: "We told the CEO that let EC issue a notice by the end of the day stating that BLAs aren’t allowed inside hearing centres. We will challenge that notice before a court of law. If they don’t, they must allow BLAs from all political parties to attend hearings. It is their democratic right."
Bhowmik argued that BLAs assisted the EC during the voter enumeration phase and cannot be arbitrarily excluded from the verification phase. The standoff highlights the escalating friction between the state's ruling party and the election authority in the lead-up to the revision of electoral rolls.
