Kolkata Booth-Level Officers Grapple with Conflicting Election Day Assignments
Booth-level officers (BLOs) across Kolkata are facing significant confusion and logistical challenges as they have been assigned dual election duties scheduled for the same day next month. The Election Commission has mandated that all BLOs serve as volunteers at voter assistance booths (VABs) established near polling stations in their respective areas. However, many of these officers have simultaneously been designated as presiding officers in other constituencies, creating an impossible scheduling conflict.
Impossible Dual Responsibilities
"Carrying out both assignments simultaneously won't be possible," explained one frustrated BLO who works in Tollygunge. "I was initially instructed to work as a volunteer at the local assistance booth. Now, I have been asked to act as a presiding officer in one of the four constituencies of Kolkata South. Managing both tasks on poll day is simply not feasible."
The BLO added that they plan to meet with the District Election Officer (DEO) to formally raise this critical issue. This sentiment is echoed by numerous colleagues across the city who find themselves in similar predicaments.
Training Workshops Add to Confusion
Compounding the problem, BLOs who have been asked to attend training workshops for presiding officers are now seeking urgent clarity from the Election Commission. They want to know whether they will be relieved of their voter assistance booth responsibilities if they take on presiding officer duties.
A BLO from Howrah expressed the widespread concern: "After being instructed to man assistance booths, I was told to attend a training workshop for presiding officers. How can I possibly perform both tasks together on poll day? From past experience, I know that a presiding officer has extensive responsibilities and cannot concentrate on anything else."
Presiding Officer Responsibilities Are Extensive
The role of a presiding officer is particularly demanding. Their duties include collecting polling materials such as EVMs and VVPATs, making all necessary arrangements at polling booths, conducting mock polls, checking EVMs, overseeing the commencement and closing of polls, and finally sealing EVMs and other polling materials. This comprehensive list of responsibilities requires undivided attention throughout election day.
Election Commission Statistics and Eligibility Criteria
According to Election Commission norms, the DEO appoints one presiding officer for each polling station. West Bengal will have 80,719 booths for the upcoming elections, each requiring one presiding officer. EC officials have indicated there will be a total of 96,863 presiding officers appointed, with 16,144 kept in reserve.
The state currently has approximately 80,681 BLOs, most of whom are schoolteachers. However, EC officials clarified that not all BLOs are "eligible" to act as presiding officers. Typically, assistant headmasters and headmistresses of government schools, college teachers, and officers in government departments are assigned duty as presiding officers based on their experience and qualifications.
This eligibility distinction adds another layer of complexity to the current confusion, as BLOs who do meet the criteria for presiding officers now face conflicting assignments that threaten to undermine election day efficiency.
