TMC Leader Accuses BJP of Mass Voter Form Submission in Rule Violation
Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has leveled serious allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party, claiming that BJP supporters submitted approximately 30,000 Form 6 applications for voter inclusion within a mere six-hour period at the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer's office on Monday. Banerjee described this action as a flagrant violation of electoral rules and demanded immediate transparency measures.
Demand for CCTV Footage and Rule Violation Claims
Following a meeting with Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal, Banerjee insisted on the immediate release of CCTV footage from the premises to identify all individuals involved in what he characterized as an organized effort. "From 11 am to 5 pm, nearly 30,000 Form 6s have been submitted by BJP. None of them are voters of Bengal, and their names are already in the voter lists of UP and Bihar," Banerjee asserted. He further claimed that the BJP is attempting to enroll these individuals in constituencies scheduled to vote during Phase 2 of the elections.
Earlier in the day, Banerjee had taken to social media platform X to share videos showing stacks of papers at the Election Commission office. "What we are witnessing is deeply concerning... This isn't a small issue, it goes to the very heart of free and fair elections," he wrote in his post, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
Mathematical Impossibility and Escalating Allegations
Banerjee pointed out that under existing electoral norms, an individual can submit a maximum of 50 Form 6 applications. This would require at least 600 individuals to process 30,000 forms within the six-hour timeframe, raising serious questions about the logistical feasibility and compliance with regulations. "We have appealed to the CEO to release CCTV footage of all vehicles and individuals who entered the office," he stated, emphasizing the need for thorough investigation.
Escalating his political attack, Banerjee accused senior BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, of attempting to engineer what he termed a "demographic change" in West Bengal. "BJP says they want 'paribartan' (change). What they are trying to change is the demography," he declared, while criticizing the Election Commission for what he perceived as insufficient action regarding identification of illegal immigrants during previous exercises.
Specific Allegations and Cultural Warnings
The TMC leader further alleged that BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya exerted pressure on the Chief Electoral Officer to accept the bulk submissions. "BJP is forcibly bringing people from Bihar, UP and Haryana and getting them included," he claimed, suggesting an organized migration effort for electoral purposes.
Banerjee issued stark cultural warnings, stating: "BJP wants this change in Bengal where Durga Puja will not happen but Ram Navami will. BJP wants this change where you will not eat fish. My land will not tolerate this. Bengal will not become Bihar." These comments reflect broader concerns about cultural identity and regional preservation amid electoral politics.
Targeted Constituencies and Verification Plans
Banerjee provided specific details about affected areas, claiming that legitimate voters were being systematically deleted while what he called "illegal voters" were being added to electoral rolls. He cited constituencies including:
- Bhatpara
- Jagaddal
- Barrackpore
- Noapara
- Naihati
where approximately 15,000 such inclusions were allegedly being attempted. Similar concerns were raised for north Kolkata constituencies such as Jorasanko, Shyampukur, and Chowringhee, indicating a potentially widespread pattern.
"Today, we have caught them red-handed. Once the final list comes out, we will go door-to-door to verify who the voters are," Banerjee declared, outlining plans for physical verification and subsequent objections. He referenced similar tactics allegedly employed in Delhi and Maharashtra, concluding that "vote theft is not happening through EVMs but through the voters' list," suggesting systemic manipulation of electoral rolls rather than electronic voting machines.
