ECI Takes Serious Note of Kolkata Protest Incident
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has formally written to Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma, describing a recent protest by booth-level officers (BLOs) as a serious security breach at the Chief Electoral Officer's office in Kolkata. The commission has demanded an action-taken report within 48 hours regarding the incident that occurred on November 24, 2025.
Security Concerns Raised by Election Body
In its official communication, the ECI expressed deep concern about the adequacy of existing security arrangements at the CEO office. The commission noted that the situation could have potentially threatened the safety of Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal, additional chief electoral officers, joint chief electoral officers, deputy chief electoral officers, and other staff members working in the office.
The letter specifically highlighted that the current security measures appeared insufficient to handle the protest situation. The ECI has instructed Kolkata Police to implement all necessary security protocols to ensure complete protection of officers and staff, including their safety at residences and during daily commutes.
Overnight Protest by BLO Rights Committee
The security breach alert follows a demonstration organized by the BLO Adhikar Raksha Committee outside the West Bengal CEO's office. The protestors, citing excessive work pressure during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, initially gathered for a rally on Monday but eventually spent the entire night inside the CEO office premises.
According to eyewitness accounts, the situation escalated around 4:30 PM when several committee members staged a sit-in outside the CEO's chamber, demanding that Agarwal personally accept their memorandum. The third floor of the building witnessed chaotic scenes as protesters raised slogans and refused to leave the premises.
Seven protest members, including convenor Moidul Islam and BLOs Amit Mondal, Sonali Chakraborty, Tanushree Bhattacharya, and Soifullah Haldar, remained inside the office overnight, wrapped in shawls and seated on the floor. The protest continued through Tuesday morning until the CEO briefly met with the demonstrators.
Election Commission's Additional Directives
The ECI has directed that adequate security classification be implemented considering the sensitivity of SIR activities and forthcoming elections in West Bengal. The commission emphasized that no such untoward incidents should recur, given the critical nature of election preparation work.
The letter was also copied to the chief secretary, home secretary, director general of police, and the CEO, indicating the high-level attention the incident has received. As of now, Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma has not publicly responded to the ECI's communication.
Meanwhile, CEO Manoj Agarwal had earlier acknowledged BLOs as the foot soldiers and real heroes of the SIR process during a press conference, noting that many had completed their work within 15 days despite the heavy workload. However, this appreciation did not prevent the protest from continuing even after his statement.
