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New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, demanding "immediate intervention" into what she perceives as highly suspicious and potentially politically motivated directives from the state's election machinery. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo's concerns centre on two critical issues, which include the exclusion of existing contractual staff from election duties and a controversial proposal to establish polling stations within private residential complexes.
In a fiery letter that has ignited a fresh political debate, Banerjee shared the letter publicly via her official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, and did not mince words in suggesting that these moves might be undertaken to covertly assist "a political party."
The data entry operators dilemma
At the heart of her first contention is a recent directive from the CEO, West Bengal, instructing District Election Officers (DEOs) to refrain from engaging contractual data entry operators and staff from the Bangla Sahayata Kendra (BSK) for "SIR-related or other election-related data work."
This directive, according to Banerjee, comes at a perplexing time, as the CEO's office has simultaneously issued a Request for Proposal (RfP) to hire 1,000 Data Entry Operators and 50 Software Developers for one year. “Simultaneously, the CEO's office has floated a Request for Proposal (RfP) for hiring 1,000 Data Entry Operators and 50 Software Developers for a period of one year,” the letter read.
The Chief Minister expressed her bewilderment, questioning the rationale behind outsourcing this exact work through an external agency for such an extended duration when, she argues, district offices already possess a "substantial number of competent professionals" perfectly capable of performing these functions. “It has recently come to light that the CEO, West Bengal, has directed District Election Officers (DEOs) not to engage contractual data entry operators and Bangla Sahyata Kendra (BSK) staff for SIR-related or other election-related data work," she wrote.
"Traditionally, field offices have always hired their own contractual data entry personnel as per requirement. If there is an urgent need, DEOS are fully empowered to undertake such hiring themselves," Banerjee stated in her letter, highlighting a departure from established protocol.
She further queried, "Why is the CEO's office assuming this role on behalf of field offices? Is this exercise being undertaken at the behest of a political party to serve vested interests? The timing and manner of this RfP certainly raise legitimate doubts."
Controversial private polling booths
The second point of contention revolves around a reported proposal by the Election Commission to set up polling stations inside private residential complexes. Mamata Banerjee vehemently objected to this potential move, asserting that such locations would gravely "compromise fairness, violate established norms and create discriminatory distinctions between residents and the general public."
She emphasised that polling stations have historically, and rightly, been situated in government or semi-government institutions. This practice, she noted, ensures universal accessibility and maintains an unimpeachable aura of neutrality for all voters.
"Why is such a move being contemplated at all? Again, is this being done under pressure from a political party to advance their partisan interests?" Banerjee reiterated, doubling down on her allegations of political influence. She concluded that "the implications of such a decision would have a severe impact on the fairness of the electoral process."
Underscoring the gravity of her concerns, the Chief Minister stressed that the "dignity and credibility of the Election Commission must remain above reproach under any circumstances."
Banerjee appealed to CEC Gyanesh Kumar to "examine these issues with utmost seriousness, impartiality, and transparency," signalling a demand for a thorough and unbiased review of the state election body's operational decisions.
