West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India following the tragic death of a Booth Level Officer in Jalpaiguri district. The incident has sparked political controversy during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in the state.
BLO Collapses During Election Duty
Bireswar Roy, the Booth Level Officer from Madhabdanga GP under Dhupguri assembly constituency, collapsed and died while performing his election duties. The incident occurred on Tuesday, sending shockwaves through the election machinery in West Bengal.
According to initial reports, the BLO was under tremendous pressure to meet election-related deadlines and responsibilities. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directly blamed the Election Commission for creating what she described as "unbearable pressure" on polling officials.
Chief Minister's Strong Condemnation
Mamata Banerjee did not mince words while addressing the media about the unfortunate incident. "The pressure that the ECI is putting on the polling personnel is unbearable," the Chief Minister stated emphatically.
She expressed deep concern about the working conditions of election staff and questioned the Commission's approach towards polling officials. "How will the polling personnel work?" she asked, highlighting the stress faced by ground-level election workers.
The Trinamool Congress supremo went further to allege that the Election Commission was operating with a biased approach. She accused the poll body of working "on the directions from Delhi" and specifically mentioned that the pressure was affecting both polling personnel and the common voters.
Political Fallout and Elections Context
The incident comes at a crucial time when West Bengal is undergoing multi-phase Lok Sabha elections. Jalpaiguri constituency had already completed its voting in the first phase on April 19, while Dhupguri is scheduled to vote in the second phase on April 26.
This tragedy has brought the working conditions of election staff into sharp focus. Booth Level Officers play a critical role in the electoral process, responsible for voter registration and verification at the grassroots level.
The death of Bireswar Roy has raised serious questions about the pressure faced by election officials and the support systems available to them during the demanding election period. The incident is likely to have repercussions on the ongoing electoral process in the state.
Political observers see this as another flashpoint in the already tense relationship between the Trinamool Congress government and the Election Commission of India. The Commission has yet to issue an official response to the Chief Minister's allegations.
This development adds to the growing list of controversies surrounding the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, where political temperatures have been running high with frequent clashes between different political parties and now questions about election administration.
