Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, objecting to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). She claimed that the manner in which this task is being imposed on election officials and citizens is “unplanned,” “haphazard,” and “dangerous.”
She said, “I have repeatedly expressed my serious concerns about the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the manner in which it is being imposed on the people.” The Chief Minister said she felt compelled to write because the situation surrounding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has reached a very dangerous point. She said, “The manner in which this task is being imposed on officials and citizens is not only unplanned and haphazard, but also dangerous.”
The Chief Minister said that the lack of basic preparation, proper planning, or clear communication has undermined the process from day one. The Chief Minister also requested the CEC to halt the SIR exercise to avoid further adverse consequences in the future.
She said, “I request you to kindly intervene to stop the ongoing exercise, prevent coercive measures, provide proper training and support, and thoroughly re-examine the current methodology and timeline.” The Chief Minister stated that if this path is not corrected without delay, the consequences for the system, officials, and citizens will be irreversible.
The Chief Minister’s letter stated, “This intervention is not only necessary but also essential to protect the integrity of the electoral process and our democratic framework.” She stated that the process has significant training deficiencies, a lack of clarity on required documentation, and the near-impossibility of meeting voters amid their work schedules, all of which make the exercise structurally unsound.
The Chief Minister further stated that while she highly appreciates the hard work of BLOs despite these extremely difficult circumstances and heavy workload, it cannot be denied that BLOs have not been provided with the necessary training, support, and time for such a monumental task.
She stated that the excessive workload, impossible timelines, inadequate support, and data entry pressure have all put the entire process and its credibility at great risk.
She stated, “BLOs are now working beyond human limits. They are expected to manage their primary duties (many of whom are teachers and frontline workers), as well as conduct door-to-door surveys and handle complex e-submissions.”
The Chief Minister stated that many people are facing difficulties filling out online forms due to lack of training, server failures, and frequent data mismatches.
