After the Opposition, now a state cabinet minister has raised his voice against the functioning of booth level officers (BLOs) engaged by the Election Commission of India.
State library minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury today alleged: “The BLOs, in many places, are seen trying to evade their responsibilities and are not doing their job sincerely.” He added: “They are supposed to pay door-to-door visits three times for the distribution and collection of enumeration forms.” However, the minister claimed, “We are receiving several complaints that they are stationed at one point in localities and asking residents to collect the papers themselves, which is not permissible.”
The minister was holding a meeting of his organisation, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, in Burdwan town this afternoon, when he said this. The organisation has a presence in certain East Burdwan blocks, including Manteswar, Mongalkote, Ketugram, Memari and Khandaghosh.
Mr Chowdhury, who was elected from the Monteswar Assembly seat, had earlier faced stiff opposition from the local Trinamul Congress (TMC) leadership and was allegedly assaulted by ruling party workers on 4 July, when his vehicle was ransacked. Political observers believe his latest remarks are aimed at putting pressure on the TMC.
Since the BLOs began their work, opposition parties have continued to raise similar allegations, claiming that the TMC is dictating and controlling the BLOs. In many places, they have demanded the replacement of certain BLOs for their alleged bias towards the ruling party.
Only yesterday, BJP district vice-president Raman Sharma complained about a BLO, Barnali Panja, alleging that she was distributing forms from a mosque in Chaktentul village and was accompanied by Basir Ali Kazi, deputy chief of the TMC-run Chaktentul Panchayat in Budbud. Barnali, however, clarified that she was confused about certain names and went to the mosque as many locals were gathered there for Jumma prayers.
Mr Chowdhury’s latest allegations have further fuelled the controversy. He demanded: “The ECI must ensure and announce the BLOs’ scheduled visits to help people prepare.”