The Trinamool Congress launched serious allegations against the Election Commission on Saturday, claiming the poll body is exerting excessive pressure on booth-level officers and demanding immediate changes to the voter enrollment methodology.
TMC Raises Alarm Over BLO Working Conditions
Speaking to journalists in Delhi, Trinamool Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien revealed that BLOs are facing tremendous strain due to the Commission's approach. He highlighted practical challenges including internet connectivity issues in numerous areas that force officers to work late into the night uploading data.
"BLOs are under immense pressure," O'Brien stated emphatically. "They return home late at night and then upload the data. Who is putting pressure on them? It is the EC."
The TMC leader positioned his party as taking responsible action by alerting the Election Commission against rushing the electoral process. He emphasized the need for proper implementation of the Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls rather than accelerated timelines that compromise quality.
Transparency Demands and Meeting Controversy
O'Brien provided startling details about Friday's meeting with election officials, noting that despite the Chief Election Commissioner speaking for 55 minutes, none of the TMC's five critical questions received satisfactory answers.
"If the EC does not want to hold a press conference, issue a press release and accuse us of planting stories in the media, then why not release the transcript of the meeting?" O'Brien challenged. He suggested the Commission take a week to prepare and publish complete meeting records for public scrutiny.
The Rajya Sabha member reinforced his party's position by invoking West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's expertise, urging the EC to follow her advice on proper electoral roll revision methodology.
Human Cost of Electoral Process
Trinamool MP Pratima Mondal delivered emotional testimony about the human consequences of the current SIR implementation. She described a disturbing moment during Friday's meeting when Derek O'Brien confronted the CEC about having "blood on his hands" while MP Satabdi Roy submitted a list of individuals who died due to the SIR process.
"We saw a hint of a smile on the CEC's face," Mondal recounted. "We asked him to wipe off that smile because we had come to discuss the deaths of people. The CEC has to take responsibility for these deaths."
The MP referenced the tragic case of BLO Rinku Devi, who mentioned in her suicide note that she had been living happily with her family and wanted to live, but felt compelled to end her life. Mondal drew a powerful parallel to Ritwik Ghatak's classic film ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara,' comparing Rinku's situation to the protagonist Nita who similarly desired to live but was pushed to extreme measures.
"The responsibility for these deaths lies not with the Trinamool, but with the EC and the Government of India," Mondal concluded, clearly assigning accountability for the tragic outcomes.
