Today marks a crucial deadline for Kolkata Police as the Election Commission's 48-hour ultimatum regarding the ongoing protest by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) comes to an end. The city also witnesses student unrest at Jadavpur University and heightened monitoring of essential commodity prices by the state government.
Election Commission's Strict Deadline to Kolkata Police
The Election Commission had issued a stern notice to Kolkata Police concerning what it termed a "serious security breach" during BLO protests on Monday. The demonstration occurred outside the State Chief Electoral Office in Kolkata's Dalhousie area, where BLOs were protesting against what they describe as excessive "SIR work pressure."
The EC had demanded an action taken report from the city police and set November 28 as the final deadline for submission. All attention is now focused on whether Kolkata Police will meet this deadline and whether the Election Commission will find their response satisfactory.
Student Unrest at Jadavpur University
Meanwhile, the ruling TMC-affiliated students council at Jadavpur University has organized a hunger strike outside the vice-chancellor's office on Friday. This protest comes in response to the sudden postponement of the Internal Liaison Committee/Council elections.
The university elections, originally scheduled for November 27, have now been rescheduled to December 2. University authorities cited "logistical issues" as the reason for this delay, but student representatives remain unconvinced and have chosen this drastic form of protest.
Government Monitors Essential Commodity Prices
In another significant development, the task force established by the West Bengal government to monitor food prices is scheduled to visit Maniktala and Bagmari wholesale markets today. This specialized team bears the responsibility of closely tracking price movements and alerting the government about any significant increases.
With state elections approaching, the work of this task force has gained increased importance. The ruling TMC government is particularly keen to prevent any upward movement in prices of essential commodities that could affect public sentiment during this politically sensitive period.
The convergence of these three significant developments creates a complex political landscape in West Bengal today, with implications for electoral integrity, student politics, and public welfare all coming into focus simultaneously.
