Is Suvendu Adhikari Right About Forged Micro-Observers' Signatures?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Kolkata, Feb 7 (NationPress) The Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has raised serious concerns regarding the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged incidents involving the forgery of signatures belonging to micro-observers. These individuals were appointed for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in his home district of East Midnapore.
In an official statement released on Saturday afternoon, Adhikari asserted that credible sources have indicated that signature forgery is occurring across various polling booths in the Deshapran block of the Uttar Kanthi Assembly constituency. This manipulation is believed to be aimed at influencing crucial processes tied to the SIR hearings concerning claims and objections related to the draft voters’ list.
“I am profoundly shocked and indignant over the blatant efforts to compromise the integrity of our democratic systems, particularly during the critical SIR hearings,” he stated.
He detailed instances from seven specific polling booths where such forgeries are purportedly occurring.
According to him, these actions represent a significant violation of electoral integrity.
“Such acts of forgery not only diminish public confidence but also suggest a desperate scheme to disrupt fair elections,” he remarked.
Adhikari has called upon the ECI and the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal to take immediate notice of these claims and initiate a comprehensive and unbiased investigation to ascertain their truth.
He emphasized that if valid grounds are identified, the Commission must act swiftly and decisively against those responsible.
It is noteworthy that the leadership of the Trinamool Congress, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has contested the ECI’s decision to deploy micro-observers to oversee hearings on claims and objections concerning the draft voters' list.
Banerjee has also accused these micro-observers of overstepping the authority of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs).