TMC BJP Clash Over SIR Buzz at All Party Meeting
West Bengal Parties Clash Over Electoral Roll Revision at CEO Meeting
KOLKATA – A seemingly routine meeting convened by West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to discuss the rationalization of polling booths devolved into a heated argument between the Trinamool congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya janata Party (BJP) on friday. The point of contention? The potential implementation of a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls.
The meeting, a follow-up to similar discussions at the district level, aimed to address the logistics of increasing the number of polling stations across the state. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has mandated a reduction in the number of voters per polling station from 1,500 to 1,200. This change will necessitate an increase in polling booths from 80,000 to approximately 95,000.
According to Aroop Biswas, a state minister representing the TMC, the SIR was not on the meeting’s agenda but was raised by other attendees. ”SIR will not be implemented in West Bengal,” Biswas asserted. “The meeting was called primarily to discuss the rationalisation of polling stations. We attended the ECI’s meeting to voice the concerns of the people.But some people come here with a political agenda.”
Shishir Bajoria, a BJP leader, countered that the TMC reacted strongly when the BJP suggested the SIR was likely to be implemented before the 2026 elections. “The TMC started saying that they won’t allow the SIR to be held in the state,” Bajoria claimed. ”The TMC is scared because it knows that if SIR is implemented, the names of dead voters, fake voters, and illegal voters would be deleted. That would put an end to the TMC’s game.”
Adding to the discord, Congress leaders were seen holding placards protesting the SIR.
While the TMC expressed concerns about the SIR,Biswas clarified that the party is not opposed to the rationalization of polling booths. He emphasized the importance of locating new booths within the same premises as existing ones to avoid dividing communities. “We have told the poll panel that the new booth, which would be set up to accommodate the voters beyond the 1200-mark, should be located within the same premises. It shouldn’t be in a far-off premises, which would split the voters of a locality into two,” he explained.
Biswas also stressed the need for impartiality from the ECI, stating, “We also want the ECI to act in an unbiased manner. It should be fair and not serve any political party. What would remain of a game if the umpire or referee is biased and favours one team.”
Further complicating the situation, political parties pointed out that district magistrates, who also serve as district electoral officers, have reported to the CEO’s office that all parties agreed to the polling station rationalization proposals at the district level. This claim was disputed by some parties who said they raised objections during those meetings.