West Bengal – A violent BJP TMC clash erupted outside the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Kolkata late Monday night, marking a significant escalation in political tensions over the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The confrontation required immediate police intervention, with authorities deploying barricades to separate the two rival political groups as hundreds of protesters gathered at the main gate of the Election Commission office, creating a volatile and potentially dangerous situation.
The BJP TMC clash highlights the deep political divide over the electoral revision process, which has become a flashpoint for accusations and counter-accusations between the two major political parties in the state.
BJP Allegations Against TMC
During the BJP TMC clash, Tamoghna Ghosh, BJP North Kolkata district president, leveled serious accusations against the Trinamool Congress. He alleged that the TMC had sent “goons” to disrupt the SIR process and commit hooliganism outside the CEO’s office. Ghosh claimed that TMC workers had arrived at the office at midnight with intentions to commit tampering with the electoral revision process.
“These are TMC goons and are here to commit hooliganism… Look at their behaviour and actions. These people are not BLOs… They had come here to the CO office at midnight to commit tampering. We stopped them,” Ghosh stated during the BJP TMC clash confrontation.
Police Deployment and Crowd Control
As the BJP TMC clash intensified, police teams maintained a tight cordon around the Election Commission office to prevent direct confrontation between the two groups. Visuals from the scene showed large groups surrounding the Election Commission gate, shouting slogans and demanding intervention from senior officials. The deployment of barricades became necessary to maintain order and prevent the situation from deteriorating further during the BJP TMC clash.
Law enforcement officials worked throughout the night to keep the opposing factions separated, demonstrating the seriousness of the political tensions surrounding the electoral revision process.
Teachers Join Protests in Solidarity
Beyond the BJP TMC clash, several schoolteachers joined the demonstrations, expressing solidarity with Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) who have been conducting the special intensive revision. One teacher clarified their position, stating they were not BLOs themselves but were supporting those officers facing excessive workload.
“I am a teacher. I am not a BLO. We are here in support of the BLOs…We are here to meet the Election Commission officers. Our representatives are inside the office. Till the time the officers don’t meet us, our protest will continue here,” a protester explained during the BJP TMC clash demonstrations.
Concerns Over Accelerated SIR Timeline
Another teacher from Murshidabad raised serious concerns about the compressed timeline for the electoral revision, suggesting this contributed to the BJP TMC clash tensions. The protester alleged that the SIR process, which typically takes two years to complete, was being conducted within just two months. They referenced the deletion of voters from electoral lists in Bihar, claiming a similar conspiracy was unfolding in West Bengal. Thousands of BLOs were reportedly prepared to return their duties if officials failed to address their concerns.
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BLO Workload and Health Crisis
Earlier on Monday, before the BJP TMC clash escalated, BLOs engaged in the SIR process held a separate demonstration outside the CEO’s office, protesting what they described as “excessive work pressure” and “unmanageable workload.” Their attempt to enter the office led to scuffles with police, further complicating an already tense situation.
The unrest surrounding the BJP TMC clash comes amid disturbing reports of BLOs falling ill, with at least three deaths reported since the enumeration phase began on November 4. Two deaths occurred by suicide, while another happened under “unnatural circumstances,” according to official confirmations. In the past two days alone, four additional BLOs fell ill and required hospital admission.
Chief Minister’s Criticism
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has publicly blamed the Election Commission for what she termed “unplanned implementation” of the SIR and conducting it in “express haste.” Her criticisms align with protester concerns that emerged during the BJP TMC clash and subsequent demonstrations, adding political weight to the BLOs’ complaints about working conditions.
CEO Acknowledges Pressure on BLOs
West Bengal CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal responded to concerns raised during and around the BJP TMC clash by acknowledging the heavy strain on BLOs. “We are receiving complaints that the BLOs are under pressure and some are falling ill. We have asked the District Magistrate to assist them. There are also reports that some BLOs have died. We have asked the DMs of four districts to send the police report and the post-mortem report,” Agarwal stated.
He indicated that reports would be available within a day or two, after which appropriate action could be taken. Describing their work as “very hard,” Agarwal praised BLOs as the “real heroes” of the ongoing revision, acknowledging they were “putting their level best” into the SIR exercise despite the challenging circumstances that contributed to the BJP TMC clash and ongoing protests.
