Summing up his three-day visit to Kolkata, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar emphasised that the Election Commission of India would not tolerate any unlawful action by a government officer, voter, or miscreant and necessary action will be taken in such cases, calling elections a festival of democracy.
Black flags and ‘go back’ slogans at various places during his Kolkata visit notwithstanding, the CEC hoped his message of violence-free elections resonates amongst the people of West Bengal.
“Today, from Kolkata, the city of joy, I appeal to all people of West Bengal that the upcoming elections should be violence-free and without pressure. It is a festival of democracy, and every voter should come to cast their vote,” said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amidst concerns of violence and intimidation in the state that have been reported in past Assembly elections.
Kumar chose not to speak on the likelihood of impeachment action to be taken against him by certain opposition parties in the country, including Congress and Trinamool Congress(TMC). “The Election Commission does not give a reply to every statement of every political party,” said Kumar.
The focus is on free and fair elections in the state, with an indication of the number of phases not being disclosed. Apart from central paramilitary forces during elections at polling booths, the ECI said there will be webcasting facilities too. Mobiles will be deposited by voters outside the polling booth to ensure the process is fair. There will be wheelchairs to assist voters in need.
Assurances will be given to voters by polling officers, including Electoral Registration Officers (ERO), to induce voter confidence.
“How many phases elections should be done would be dependent on the law and order preparedness of the state. Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is to ensure rolls are pure and only electors who are entitled to vote,” added Kumar.
The emphasis was on including eligible voters in the voting process and keeping illegal voters away. “Some voters who have not been informed by political parties and are not in the voter list can fill form 6 and include their name in the list,” said Kumar, who also clarified that voters who are in supplementary lists will reflect in the ECI website and efforts are being made by judicial officers to tackle cases of voters under the adjudication category after publication of final list of SIR.
Kumar also wanted to send across a message that West Bengal is not being singled out. “Logical discrepancies were pointed out in all 12 states, the way it was done in West Bengal and whenever unmapped logical discrepancies were seen, they (SIR officials) met electors, documents were given,” clarified Kumar.
The SIR has been marred by controversy and opposition from the ruling TMC and other parties, who look at it as harassment for voters and intentional exclusion of legitimate voters. The BJP, on the other hand, advocates for infiltrators, particularly from the minority community, being removed not just from the voting list, but from West Bengal too.
The Hindu minority Matua community, which also finds its roots in Bangladesh and fled to West Bengal due to religious persecution, on the other hand, has been given assurances by the saffron party of not being left out of the final SIR. Currently, more than 60 lakh voters have been excluded from the final SIR list, while another 60 lakh voters are in the adjudication category.
