A DAY after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is adding “fake voters”, in West Bengal, the BJP on Friday alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) wants to delete voters from a particular community from the state’s electoral rolls.
On Thursday, Banerjee accused the BJP of adding fake voters from other states to the electoral rolls with the alleged backing of the Election Commission of India (EC), claiming that the party had used similar tactics to secure victories in Assembly elections in other states.
On Friday, a BJP delegation including Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and other BJP MLAs went to the chief electoral office (CEO) and handed over a memorandum.
It said, “We bring to your notice that on February 17, 2025, the Hon’ble Chief Minister Smt Mamata Banerjee, while addressing the TMC party at Netaji Indoor Stadium made it clear that steps should be taken to remove 4,000 to 5,000 voters…”
It alleged, “For this, various district-level agencies, many of which have contracts with the state government, are likely to be used. The Commission must closely monitor and ensure that no such outsourced agency is used in any activity connected with the voters’ list.”
Meanwhile, the CEO of the state said that update of the electoral rolls is being done by officials with the active participation of Booth Level Agents (BLOs) appointed by political parties.
The CEO emphasised that any specific claims or objections should be directed to the BLOs, AEROs (Assistant Electoral Registration Officers), and EROs (Electoral Registration Officers) in West Bengal.
“As per RP Act 1950, Registration of Electors Rules 1960 and Manual on Electoral Rolls, concerned BLOs, AEROs, EROs, DEOs, and CEOs in any State/UT work for the updation of Electoral Rolls,” the CEO West Bengal posted on X.
“This is done with active participation of Booth Level Agents appointed by political parties. Any specific claim or objections are to be made first before the concerned 80,633 BLOs, 3,049 AEROs and 294 EROs in West Bengal,” the post read.
(With PTI inputs)