BJP Slams TMC-Run Community Halls for Flouting Election Rules in Bengal

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The BJP has accused the ruling TMC in West Bengal of violating electoral norms by running 'illegal voter verification camps' from community halls under their control. According to the BJP, these camps compromise the neutrality of officials and could lead to manipulation of the voter list. In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer, BJP leader Shishir Bajoria cited several instances of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) conducting voter verification activities from TMC-controlled premises instead of undertaking door-to-door verification as mandated by the Election Commission. Bajoria pointed to a specific community hall in the 116-Bidhannagar Assembly constituency, where voters were directed to visit the hall with their voter ID and Aadhaar cards for verification. The hall, he claimed, is under the control of a TMC minister and the municipality chairman. The BJP leader alleged that similar incidents were reported from multiple assembly segments across the state, indicating a coordinated attempt to influence the voter roll revision. The BJP demanded that the Election Commission take immediate action, including shutting down the camps, suspending BLOs who conducted official duties inside TMC-controlled premises, and deploying neutral officials in sensitive pockets. The TMC and the CEO's office have yet to respond to the allegations. The BJP's move is seen as an attempt to highlight the alleged electoral malpractices in West Bengal, which has been a contentious issue in the state's politics.