The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a stern directive to the West Bengal state government, demanding the immediate release of enhanced honorarium payments for Booth Level Officers (BLOs). The Commission warned that strict action will follow any attempts to intimidate election officials performing their duties.
Immediate Release of Funds and Accessible Polling Stations
In an official statement, the ECI instructed the West Bengal administration to disburse the increased honorarium, which the Commission itself had approved, to each BLO without further delay. This directive came during a meeting with a delegation from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in New Delhi.
The Commission also informed the TMC representatives about plans to ensure greater voter accessibility in the upcoming elections. Polling stations will be established within high-rise buildings, gated communities, and slum areas to make it easier for residents to cast their votes. The ECI strongly emphasized that any form of coercion or intimidation targeting BLOs, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Assistant EROs, or election observers will not be tolerated.
Conflict Over Electoral Roll Revision and "Unmapped" Voters
The order comes amid a heated dispute between the TMC-led state government and the central election authority over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state's electoral rolls. TMC national general secretary and Lok Sabha MP, Abhishek Banerjee, has accused the BJP of "bulldozing" the SIR process. He claimed the revision has led to over 50 deaths due to "panic, anxiety, exhaustion and fear," calling it a voter-cleansing operation designed for the BJP's benefit.
Separately, the office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer addressed a technical issue on Monday, issuing instructions to district authorities regarding voters marked as "unmapped" in the BLO application. This problem stems from data conversion errors linked to the 2002 electoral rolls. The authorities reaffirmed safeguards for vulnerable voters, a move welcomed by Abhishek Banerjee, whose party had previously flagged the concern.
Safeguards for Elderly and Ailing Voters
In a communication to all district election officers and magistrates, the Additional Chief Electoral Officer outlined special provisions. Voters aged 85 and above, along with those who are sick or have disabilities, are permitted to opt out of personal hearings. They or their representatives can submit a request for this exemption.
Even if hearing notices have already been sent, these individuals can be contacted via telephone and advised not to attend in person. Election officials will then conduct the necessary verification at the voters' residences.
The SIR exercise has seen significant changes to the voter list, with reports suggesting over 58.2 lakh names being deleted during the enumeration period. The ECI published the draft voter list for West Bengal on December 16, 2024. The window for filing claims and objections remains open until January 15, 2026, with the final electoral roll set for publication on February 14, 2026.
Earlier, on December 29, a five-member TMC team submitted a memorandum to the state's Chief Electoral Officer. They demanded transparency, asking for the public release of the list of voters categorized under "Logical Discrepancy" and a clear explanation of the methodology and legal basis for creating this category.
