Has CPI-M Requested Action Against BDOs for Allowing Trinamool's Political Activities?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- CPI-M has raised concerns over the use of public offices for political meetings.
- Legal actions against the BDOs have been requested.
- The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process is set to begin on November 4.
- A total of 6,200 help desks will be established to assist voters.
- Controversy surrounding the SIR continues as political tensions rise.
Kolkata, Nov 1 (NationPress) The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has formally approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the alleged actions of two block development officers (BDOs) in West Burdwan district, West Bengal. These officials reportedly permitted the local Trinamool Congress leadership to utilize their office facilities for a virtual party meeting held on Friday, presided over by General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
The CPI-M's Politburo member and West Bengal Secretary, Mohammed Salim, submitted a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, urging an investigation into these occurrences and appropriate legal measures against the involved BDOs.
Salim provided corroborative materials to back his claims, stating, "I have requested the CEO of West Bengal to take immediate action against those BDOs. How dare they permit the venue of a party meeting in the BDO offices?"
During the virtual meeting led by Abhishek Banerjee, organizational responsibilities were assigned to Trinamool Congress leaders, state Cabinet members, and grassroots workers in preparation for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) starting November 4.
At this assembly, Banerjee instructed the party's booth-level agents (BLAs) to monitor the booth-level officers (BLOs) designated by the ECI throughout the SIR process.
"It was also resolved that the Trinamool Congress will establish area-specific help desks across the state to assist voters from November 4. A total of 6,200 help desks will be operational statewide, functioning daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the SIR concludes on December 4," reported a party leader who attended the session.
The last occurrence of the SIR in West Bengal was in 2002, using that voters' list as a reference.
The ongoing SIR has already sparked controversy in West Bengal, with the Trinamool Congress labeling it an indirect attempt to enforce the NRC in the state.
Conversely, the Bharatiya Janata Party argues that the Trinamool Congress opposes the SIR due to fears that the names of illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants would be purged from the voters' list.