Mamata Banerjee Holds Urgent Meeting on Bhowanipore Voter List Crisis
In a critical move ahead of her scheduled visit to Delhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee convened an emergency meeting with councillors and Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from the Bhowanipore constituency on Friday. This gathering, held at the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party office in Kalighat, Kolkata, was prompted by the alarming omission of approximately 45,000 voters' names from the electoral roll in this key seat.
Strategic Focus on Vulnerable Wards
During the meeting, Banerjee issued specific directives to address the voter list discrepancies. Trinamool insiders revealed that she emphasized extreme caution in three particular wards—ward 63, 72, and 77—where the issue appears most acute. She instructed the BLAs to submit daily reports to senior party officials to ensure continuous monitoring and swift resolution of the problem.
Furthermore, the Chief Minister mandated that BLAs conduct doorstep visits for all voters who are being included in the list or called for hearings. This proactive approach aims to assist affected individuals directly and mitigate any potential disenfranchisement ahead of future electoral exercises.
Comprehensive Review and Developmental Updates
The meeting saw the attendance of all eight councillors and 267 BLA-2s from Bhowanipore, underscoring its importance. Notably, Bhowanipore is Banerjee's own electoral constituency, where she secured her third term as Chief Minister by winning a by-election in 2021. Sources indicated that she instructed councillors to conduct a thorough review of each ward, part by part, to identify areas with the highest concentration of omitted voters.
In a particularly concerning revelation, a source claimed that over 100 names were deleted from the Mitra Institution booth alone—the very polling station where the Chief Minister casts her vote. This highlights the severity and potential impact of the voter list errors on the democratic process.
Beyond the voter list issues, Banerjee also enquired about the progress of various developmental projects in Bhowanipore, reflecting her ongoing commitment to the constituency's welfare and infrastructure improvements.
High-Profile Attendance and Extended Discussions
The meeting, which commenced at 6 PM, was structured in two phases. Initially, Banerjee discussed matters with the councillors, followed by a separate session with the BLA-2s. Among the notable attendees were the councillor of ward 82, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, and TMC state president Subrata Bakshi.
Discussions, led by Mayor Hakim, continued well into the late evening to ensure the effective implementation of all instructions issued by Banerjee. This extended deliberation underscores the urgency and complexity of addressing the voter list omissions and preparing for the upcoming actions in Delhi.
Upcoming Delhi Visit and Election Commission Complaint
In a significant development, Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee plan to visit Delhi on February 1. Their agenda includes lodging a formal complaint with the Election Commission's office on February 2. This move aims to bring national attention to the voter list discrepancies in Bhowanipore and seek remedial measures from the electoral authorities.
The timing of this meeting, just days before her Delhi trip, highlights the strategic importance Banerjee places on resolving the voter list issues. It also reflects the broader political tensions and electoral preparedness efforts in West Bengal, as the state gears up for potential future polls.
