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Kolkata: The full bench of the Election Commission (EC) has reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over the implementation of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar sharply criticising state officials for allegedly failing to follow guidelines properly.

According to sources, Kumar made the remarks at the start of a meeting between the EC’s full bench and senior state election and administrative officials. He reportedly told them that the work expected from them had not been carried out adequately due to negligence.

During the Commission’s meeting with political parties, all three major opposition parties in the state – the BJP, the Congress and the CPI(M) – demanded that the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections be conducted in a single phase or at most two phases.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, the parties said they argued that prolonged, multi-phase polling schedules often create administrative complications and increase the possibility of tensions on the ground.

Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya said the number of phases was less important than ensuring voter safety.

“What we want is security. The Commission must ensure that voting happens neutrally. We would be happy if it happens in one phase, but security is the priority,” he said.

The BJP also indicated that elections should be held in one or at most two phases and completed within a short time frame. Party representatives raised concerns about law and order and demanded extensive deployment of Union security forces at polling booths to ensure violence-free voting.

The CPI(M) demanded that elections be held in one phase, though it said it could accept a maximum of two. Party state secretary Mohammad Salim sharply criticised the SIR exercise, demanding that all mapped voters and all verified Form 6 applicants be included immediately.

“We asked why the Election Commission turned people into enemies while preparing a voter list. Why has the Commission become a commission of harassment?” Salim said. “All ‘under adjudication’ voters must be included in the voter list for the purpose of casting their vote now.”

Political observers said the opposition’s demand is also driven by strategic considerations. They argue that a prolonged polling schedule could allow the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) to mobilise organisational resources across constituencies and adjust campaign strategies between phases.

Senior political analyst Sambit Pal said: “Multi-phase polls allow the ruling party to mobilise workers across phases and shape the narrative on the ground. The opposition doesn’t have the strong grassroots organisational machinery that the TMC has. It becomes difficult for the opposition in Bengal to keep the momentum in a prolonged election period.”

The TMC’s delegation, comprising senior ministers Firhad Hakim and Chandrima Bhattacharya, along with Rajiv Kumar, the recently retired state police chief who has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the party, criticised the SIR and accused the BJP of influencing the EC’s policies.

Hakim speaking to mediapersons alleged that the BJP had tried to portray West Bengal as a hub of Rohingya refugees and undocumented ‘infiltrators’, leading to the EC framing policies based on that narrative. The party urged the Commission to ensure that no genuine Indian citizen is excluded from the voter list, he said.

“During the two-month process, no evidence was found. Instead, Indian citizens were harassed,” Hakim said. “The BJP has no ground beneath its feet. They are destroying the state. Innocent people are being made to stand in SIR lines. Because of them, so many people have died.”

The interaction between the Commission’s full bench and the Trinamool delegation also turned tense during the meeting. According to sources, Bhattacharya raised her voice while presenting the party’s objections to the SIR, prompting CEC Kumar to ask her to lower her tone and submit the party’s suggestions calmly.

Speaking to the media later, Bhattacharya alleged: “I am a woman, and he tells me ‘don’t shout’. There is no respect for women. Women’s names are also being removed from voter lists.”

She also claimed that when the TMC delegation sought a response on certain issues, Kumar told them that the party had already moved the Supreme Court on the matter. EC sources, however, rejected the TMC’s claim, stating that the CEC had only pointed out that the issue related to the SIR is currently sub judice before the apex court.

Apart from the TMC, representatives of the Forward Bloc, the Aam Aadmi Party and the National People’s Party also attended the meeting. The EC clarified that citizens can still submit Forms 6, 7 and 8 to add, delete or correct names in the electoral rolls.

The Commission’s visit to Kolkata was also marked by protests from both TMC and Left supporters.

As the CEC’s convoy travelled from Kolkata airport to New Town, protesters waved black flags and raised slogans opposing the SIR. Police intervened to control the situation after some demonstrators attempted to remove barricades.

Left activists also staged demonstrations near VIP Road, raising slogans such as “No voters, no vote”.

© The Wire