A brewing controversy engulfs West Bengal’s electoral overhaul as the state administration fails to furnish the Election Commission with vital details on 8,505 Group-B officers tasked with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. The standoff, pitting CM Mamata Banerjee against the EC, shows no signs of abating.
According to CEO office sources, the Commission requested in-depth backgrounds amid red flags on the officers’ credentials. With February 14 marking the end of claim-objection hearings, their participation seems improbable.
Potential involvement in post-hearing document checks until February 21 remains conditional on submitted proofs. Disturbing findings include non-qualifying staff like clerks, typists, and pensioners listed erroneously. The EC’s outreach to state departments seeks to untangle this web.
As the finalized voter list approaches on February 28, the EC’s impending two-day assessment in Kolkata signals intense scrutiny. Assembly election dates may follow swiftly, making the government’s delay a potential flashpoint in Bengal’s political landscape.