The Supreme Court has granted permission for judicial officers from Jharkhand and Orissa to assist in resolving voter claims and objections during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal. This decision has sparked varied reactions from political parties in the state. The Trinamool Congress views the Apex Court’s ruling as a sign of the Election Commission of India losing control over the SIR process in West Bengal.
The Trinamool Congress criticized the Election Commission’s handling of the SIR process, stating that the court’s intervention was necessary due to administrative failures. They alleged a conspiracy by the Commission to target and harass voters in West Bengal selectively. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s West Bengal unit president, Samik Bhattacharya, emphasized the importance of court intervention for the smooth progress of the SIR exercise in the state.
Bhattacharya highlighted that West Bengal stands out for controversies and disruptions in the SIR exercise compared to other states and Union Territories. He suggested that the state government and ruling party are hindering the exercise’s completion. Notably, there was no immediate response from the CPI(M) or Congress regarding the matter.
