BLOs Refuse to Leave CEO's Office in Kolkata Protest
A delegation of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) has been staging a continuous dharna for over 24 hours outside the office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Kolkata, steadfastly demanding a meeting with CEO Manoj Agarwal. The members of the BLO Adhikar Raksha Committee have declared their refusal to vacate the premises until their demands are heard.
Heightened Security and a Firm Standoff
The protest escalated on Tuesday morning with a significant police deployment cordoning off the area. Barricades were secured with ropes, and officers meticulously checked the IDs of every individual attempting to enter the building. Despite a visit from Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division) Indira Mukherjee, the situation remained unresolved.
Inside, a 10-member delegation, comprising four BLOs and six teachers or state government employees, remained seated outside the CEO's chamber, a position they had held since Monday afternoon. They even declined an offer from Additional CEO Dibyendu Das to wait in his chamber, insisting on staying put outside the main office.
Grievances and Allegations of Threats
Speaking to the media, Moidol Islam, a representative of the BLO Adhikar Raksha Committee, articulated their primary concerns. He stated that they had come to express grievances regarding the excessively short time provided to complete enumeration forms and other work-related issues. Instead of a hearing, he alleged, the protesting BLOs were being threatened. "We have been waiting for over 24 hours and the CEO does not have five minutes to meet us," Islam expressed with frustration.
In a display of dedication to their electoral duties, the protesting BLOs were seen continuing to upload enumeration forms digitally from the dharna spot itself.
Preceding Events and Political Tensions
The current standoff follows a series of events that began on Monday. The BLO Adhikar Raksha Committee first organized a march from College Square to the CEO's office building. Later, a delegation entered the office to submit a memorandum of their grievances. Upon exiting, they alleged that one member had received a threat message for participating in the rally, which prompted them to begin an impromptu sit-in inside the office. Kolkata Police and security personnel eventually intervened, physically removing the protesters from the premises.
Tensions flared further on Monday night when BJP councillor Sajal Ghosh and his supporters arrived, claiming the delegation intended to tamper with documents. This led to slogan-shouting and a scuffle between BJP and TMC supporters, necessitating additional police forces to be stationed outside the CEO's office to maintain order.
