As the Election Commission (EC) on Sunday extended the deadline of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by one week, the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) welcomed the move.
“It is quite a relief,” a BLO from North 24 Parganas said. “I was unwell and felt that if there was some extension (in the deadline), it would be of great help. Most of my work is complete, but now that I have seven more days it is quite a relief,” said the BLO on condition of anonymity.
However, some BLOs remained critical, arguing that the seven-day extension was insufficient for fieldwork.
Tanusree Modak Bhattacharya, a BLO protesting outside the state Chief Electoral Office said, “This can be called a preliminary victory for us. But not the solution to the problem. The (SIR) work requires two years, and they have given us just seven more days. We don’t see this as a solution…”
“None of us said we are not ready to do this, but the fact is it is nearly impossible to carry out this work with our full time job, said another BLO, referring to their job as school teachers.
“The SIR process is not in our control as digitisation requires strong net connectivity… Many are tense, some have fallen sick and even died. Seven days might not be of great help. The EC must adopt a humane approach,” said a BLO.
A section of the BLOs complained about work pressure, citing that digitising voter information is time-consuming and that there is lack in necessary infrastructure, thereby leading to delays in distribution and collection of enumeration forms and digitisation.
The deadline extension has validated their concerns. The members of BLO Adhikar Raksha Committee sat on a dharna outside the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer’s office protesting over “excessive work pressure” under the SIR since November 25.
Meanwhile, the political parties, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), CPI(M), and Congress, have slammed the SIR deadline extension, calling it “inadequate”.
TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty accused the EC of working for the BJP, while CPI(M)’s Mohammed Salim questioned the Commission’s planning and capability.
“This move is because the target set by the BJP for the Commission was not met. By issuing this directive, the EC has once again proved that it is working for the BJP. But it will be of no use. No matter how much you pull the strings, the ‘hawai choti’ will return to the state secretariat, Nabanna,” Chakraborty said, referring to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s favourite footwear- slippers.
CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim said, “ The EC has no understanding of ground reality. That is why they had to change their stance. This directive proves again that the EC lacks both planning and capability.” “The EC should have realised earlier that it is not possible to conduct the SIR in a complex state like West Bengal in such a short time… This Commission has no planning, they are paper tigers,” senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.
Meanwhile, Union Minister and BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar welcomed the extension, stating it should be extended further if necessary. “The EC has done what it deemed best. If needed, SIR should be conducted over two years, then the election should be held,” he said wryly, referring to the TMC’s complaint of inadequate time.
Taking a dig at CM Mamata Banerjee, Majumdar said, “Whatever is to be done, will be done by the EC, not the Pishi.”
“The deadline has been postponed. Mamata Banerjee had said that it would take two years to implement the SIR. So, two years should be given. We also wanted that, following Mamata’s words, it should be made two years, and President’s Rule should be imposed. She could remain the CM until her tenure ends and after that the President’s Rule should be imposed, and the SIR, election, whatever needs to be done, should be done,” the BJP leader said.