A political controversy has erupted in West Bengal ahead of the crucial second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's communication to state civil service officers drawing sharp criticism from the opposition.
The Meeting and The Controversial Letter
According to state administration sources, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a meeting with leaders of the West Bengal Civil Service (Executive) organisation on December 23. Following this interaction, she penned a letter addressed to the WBCS officers.
In her communication, Banerjee acknowledged the challenging circumstances the officers were working under during the SIR process. The letter stated, "I know WBCS officers are doing their job in an adverse environment during this SIR process. But remember that our government is always with you and in the future also, we will stand beside you." She also highlighted the steps her administration had taken for the welfare of the service cadre.
Opposition Cry Foul, Allege Intimidation
The move was swiftly condemned by the Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP. Taking to social media platform X, Adhikari launched a scathing attack, accusing the Chief Minister of attempting to unduly influence the officers overseeing the SIR exercise.
"Mamata Banerjee is trying to woo the WBCS Officers who are overseeing the SIR exercise and in a subtle manner trying to remind them how they have benefited from this state government," Adhikari wrote. He alleged the letter was a veiled attempt to make officers aware they might have to deal with her government after the upcoming elections.
Adhikari further criticised the tone of the letter, calling it "patronising" and an effort to use "administrative toil as leverage for loyalty." He asserted, "This is nothing but an attempt to intimidate the WBCS officers." The BJP leader also listed several pending issues faced by the WBCS officers under the current dispensation. BJP sources confirmed that Adhikari has lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI), seeking appropriate action.
Why The Controversy Holds Significance
The issue carries substantial weight because the officers tasked with conducting the SIR 2.0 hearings are drawn from the WBCS (Executive) cadre. These officers serve as Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs).
A senior state government official explained the critical role these officers play: "EROs and AEROs have the power to dispose of all hearings. In every Assembly constituency, there will be 11 such officers who will essentially dispose of the hearings. So, if anyone says the Chief Minister is trying to influence the process, they are not fully wrong."
The ECI is scheduled to commence the hearing process on December 27. The first round of notices has been issued to electors whose names lack proper mapping with the 2002 SIR data. From the draft electoral roll published on December 16, which contains 31 lakh such electors, about 10 lakh have already received hearing notices.
The ECI has mandated a robust setup for the hearings. Eleven hearing tables will be established in each Assembly constituency, with one ERO or AERO presiding over each. To ensure transparency and impartiality, a micro-observer appointed directly by the Election Commission will be present at every table to oversee the entire proceedings.
The development sets the stage for a tense administrative and political period as West Bengal prepares for the intensive revision of voter lists, a process often seen as a precursor to major electoral battles.
