Inside Bengal’s SIR camps: TMC on ground, rivals cry intimidation

When West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stood before the Supreme Court on February 4 to challenge the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, she underscored what she called the “human cost” of the exercise.

“And more than 100 people died. Can you imagine? BLOs (Booth Level Officers) died and they have written a letter stating that the CEO is responsible for my suicide. So many BLOs died,” Banerjee told the court, which heard the matter again on February 9.

But on the ground across Bengal, a different picture is unfolding.

During visits to six SIR hearing camps across four districts — North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Murshidabad and Howrah Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers were found firmly entrenched at every stage of the process, according to The Indian Express. From managing queues and filling forms to “monitoring” BLOs and Block Development Officers (BDOs), party cadres appeared to be running the show.

Opposition parties — the Left, Congress and BJP — allege they have been systematically kept out through intimidation, threats and the fear of violence.

With hearings originally slated to conclude on February 7 but still pending at several locations, the Supreme Court on Monday extended the SIR deadline by a week.

‘We are everywhere’

In Minakhan, around 50 km from Kolkata, thousands queued up near the BDO office as TMC volunteers operated in layers — one guiding people outside, another filling and checking forms inside, and a third coordinating directly with BLOs and Booth Level Agents (BLAs).

“We are everywhere. From filling up forms to coordinating with BLOs to arranging documents, we are doing everything,” said former TMC panchayat pradhan Jiarul Hoque Mollah.

Minakhan panchayat samiti chairperson Saifuddin Mollah detailed the party’s involvement: “Each BLO gets at least 10 calls a day to check the status of applications. We have 70–80 volunteers coordinating between people, BLOs and BLAs. We have been here since January 24.”

Asked about Opposition presence, a TMC panchayat member dismissed it outright. “The BJP cannot be here. They are the ones who put people in trouble. They came to delete names, but we did not allow them to submit papers.”

A more ominous warning followed from a TMC worker: “The khela (game) will begin after the final voters’ list is published. If any voter is excluded, the BLOs and BDOs will face people’s anger. Then we can’t help them.”

‘Remember that we know you’

At SIR camps in Baruipur’s Mallikpur Girls’ School and a nearby boys’ school, local TMC leaders were seen openly reprimanding BLOs.

“Remember that we know you,” one leader warned a BLO in full view of reporters.

Local CPI(M) leader Lahek Ali alleged Opposition parties were unable to appoint BLAs due to fear. “They are using muscle power while claiming to help people,” he said.

The BJP and Congress echoed the charge. Former state BJP president Rahul Sinha accused the TMC of “using government machinery to capture the SIR process”, while state Congress president Subhankar Sarkar alleged “vote theft with the connivance of the Election Commission”.

The TMC rejected the allegations. “The Opposition has no ground presence. We appointed 89,631 BLAs. They failed to appoint BLAs in 60% of places and are now crying foul,” said party spokesperson Arup Chakraborty.

‘Just like elections’

In Howrah’s Chara Panchla, TMC block president Sheikh Ashraf Hussain was seen issuing instructions to party workers and BLOs alike.

“When BLOs make mistakes, we ask them to correct it. Our boys are monitoring round the clock,” he said, adding that the local MLA was supervising the camps.

At another camp nearby, TMC workers managed queues, arranged documents, food, water and transport. “We are working just like during elections,” said a local panchayat pradhan’s husband.

Voters acknowledged the assistance — but also the pressure. “The exercise is time-consuming, but what choice do we have?” said one woman waiting in line.

BLOs under pressure

In Murshidabad’s Kandi, TMC leaders were the only political actors present, struggling to manage swelling crowds. “If BLOs falter, they may face people’s ire,” admitted a local TMC leader.

That fear was palpable among officials.

In Baharampur’s outskirts, 36-year-old BLO Mukta Zaman fielded calls late into the night. “It is madness,” she said. “We are stuck between EC guidelines and angry voters.”

Zaman herself has been summoned for a hearing over a “logical discrepancy” — her age difference with her father. “I don’t know how they found this,” she said.

“We are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea,” she added. “People know our faces, have our phone numbers. I am scared of what will happen after the final list is published.”