Kolkata, Nov 12 (NationPress) The Election Commission's recent decision to ease the criteria for appointing Booth Level Agents (BLAs) has sparked dissatisfaction among the Trinamool Congress, while the BJP has expressed approval. This change came just eight days after the commencement of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal.

Previously, the Commission's rules for BLA appointments were stringent. The 2023 guidelines mandated that any BLA from a political party must be a voter at their respective booth. However, on Tuesday, the Election Commission announced a modification: to qualify as a BLA, it is now sufficient to be a voter within the relevant Assembly constituency.

According to the new guideline, "Typically, one BLA is appointed per section of the electoral roll. The BLA must be a registered elector in the relevant section for which they are appointed. If a Booth Level Agent is unavailable from the specific section of the roll, an agent may be appointed from any registered elector within the same Assembly Constituency. It is anticipated that the BLA will review the draft roll for their section to identify entries of voters who are deceased or have moved away," stated the updated guideline.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has circulated this guideline to Chief Electoral Officers across all states and union territories.

Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, shared the guideline on his X handle, stating, "I applaud the Election Commission of India's timely adjustment to the criteria for appointing Booth Level Agents. This forward-thinking decision enhances flexibility by allowing BLAs from the same Assembly Constituency when local agents are unavailable, while ensuring thorough examination of the electoral rolls to spot moved or deceased voters."

Sources indicate that this change may enhance the BJP's chances in West Bengal, as the party has struggled to appoint BLAs at every booth due to its limited organizational strength in numerous areas. This alteration allows the party a better opportunity to ensure BLAs are appointed at every booth, as they now need only be voters in the relevant Assembly constituency.

The BJP leader further remarked, "This will inevitably bolster the integrity of our electoral process, foster transparency, and empower political parties to contribute more effectively towards accurate voter lists. Kudos to the ECI for considering ground realities and reinforcing democracy."

Conversely, the Trinamool Congress has voiced its discontent with the ECI's decision, claiming it grants the BJP an unfair edge in the state.

The Trinamool Congress alleged a connection between the poll panel and the BJP, suggesting this move facilitates the latter's further infiltration into the region.

"The Election Commission has stealthily and cunningly modified the guidelines for BLA appointments, raising significant concerns. Under current regulations, BLOs are required to come from the same booth or at least the same polling station. Why is this exception made only for BLAs? Because the BJP struggles to locate local agents in its booths, it aims to pave the way for outsiders to disrupt the voting process from within," stated the Trinamool Congress in a social media post.

The party added, "This illustrates that the Election Commission, once an independent constitutional authority, has transformed into an extension of the ruling party. It’s unsurprising that when the secretary of Amit Shah’s assistant ministry is appointed as Chief Election Commissioner, rules are modified to benefit the ruling party. The BJP knows how to change the rules—if it can’t win, it seeks to manipulate the game."

It is noteworthy that prior to the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, former BJP leader Mukul Roy had proposed a similar suggestion to the Election Commission, advocating that if a person is a voter within a particular Assembly constituency, they should be eligible to serve as the party's polling agent at any booth during the election day.