The Election Commission of India (ECI) started training Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in West Bengal on Saturday, amid concerns that a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, currently being held in neighbouring poll-bound Bihar, will be held in the state too.
During the training session, West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal did not deny that SIR could be held in the state too. “It may be held in the future. SIR is a sub judice matter. Let the judgment come,” Agarwal said. “We are also giving SIR training because we cannot call BLOs every time. They are not our permanent staff. We are ready for any type of exercise, even SIR,” he added.
Agarwal said that there were 81,000 booths in West Bengal, which would be increased by 14,000. “We will give training to every worker in each booth,” he added.
On Saturday, the training of BLOs, assistant electoral registration officers and supervisors of Murshidabad, Nadia, South and North 24 Parganas districts began at Najrul Mancha stadium in Kolkata.
“This is a training for Special Summary Revision, which is held in West Bengal every year in September. This year, it will happen a month early,” Dibyendu Das, Additional CEO, West Bengal, said.
Meanwhile, the ECI has revised the remuneration of BLOs and BLO supervisors in West Bengal, where Assembly elections are due early next year. The poll panel also declared that BLOs will get additional incentives for taking part in special drives.
According to sources, the ECI has sent a letter to all CEOs stating, “…the Commission has directed that following minimum annual remuneration should be granted to BLOs and BLO supervisors: Booth Level Officer (BLO)-Rs 12,000, BLO Supervisor-Rs 18000, Special Incentive to BLO (for SSR/SR and any other special drive) Rs 2000.” ECI sources said that BLOs used to get Rs 6,000 earlier.
The ruling Trinamool Congress, meanwhile, said that the party will not allow an SIR in Bengal. “The Election Commission is working to help the BJP in all voting states. They will try that, but the work in Bengal will not be easy, because in every booth of the state, the TMC has an organisation. Every valid voter has contact with the TMC. This conspiracy will not work in West Bengal, because the TMC activists will stand at all booths across the state,” TMC spokesperson Jayprakash Majumder said.