A five-member delegation from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday held a meeting with West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manoj Agarwal, raising serious concerns about the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The delegation urged the election official to ensure that ordinary voters do not face harassment during the process.
Key Demands for Vulnerable Voters
The TMC leaders presented a set of specific demands aimed at protecting vulnerable sections of the electorate. They strongly advocated that elderly, infirm, and persons with disabilities (PWD) should not be summoned for physical hearings related to the SIR. The party argued that since the Election Commission itself sends officials to collect votes from shelter homes during polls, similar consideration should be shown now.
Addressing the media after the meeting, TMC MP Partha Bhowmik highlighted the lack of transparency. "Why are people whose names are being deleted from the voter list not being informed about the reasons?" he questioned. He emphasized that senior citizens and those with disabilities should be spared the ordeal of attending hearings.
Call for Virtual Hearings and Transparency
The delegation pushed for several procedural changes to make the revision process more voter-friendly. A major point of contention was the disallowance of BLA-2 agents during hearings, even though they are permitted during door-to-door verification and parties are allowed polling agents. The TMP demanded clarity on this discrepancy.
Furthermore, the party insisted that provisions for virtual hearings must be made available for individuals who have migrated to other states or countries for work or education. Bhowmik issued a warning, stating that if a satisfactory reply is not received from the EC, the delegation would return for another meeting on Tuesday at 3 PM.
EC's Response and Political Reactions
Following the meeting, the Election Commission responded positively to one of the core demands. It stated that voters who are "85 years or more, who are sick, PWD... may not be called for hearing." TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee acknowledged this step on social media platform X, expressing relief. He further urged the EC to extend this compassionate consideration to citizens above 60 years living with medical conditions.
However, the stance was not unanimous. Junior Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar of the BJP offered a counterpoint, arguing that if elderly voters can visit polling booths, they can attend hearings. He did, however, agree that online hearing options should be provided. Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya noted that the SIR is ongoing in 11 other states and called the allegations in Bengal unique.
Adding to the criticism, SUCI state secretary Chandidas Bhattacharya condemned the process, calling it "cruel oppression." He cited extreme examples, including nonagenarians being brought by ambulance in severe cold and paralyzed individuals having to climb stairs for hearings that were supposed to be home-based.
