TMC Slams ECI, BJP Assails 'Panic-Mongering' Amid Voter Roll Review Chaos

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West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of failing to support Block Level Officers (BLOs) in the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of the electoral roll. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hit back, claiming the TMC is spreading panic among voters. BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar, Union minister and MP for South Dinajpur, visited a voter assistance booth in Balurghat and said the TMC's warnings that those excluded from the electoral roll will be declared undocumented immigrants are unfounded. 'Genuine citizens will never be affected,' he stated. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh, however, blamed the ECI for not providing adequate training and support to BLOs, leading to their distress. 'It's no surprise people are breaking down under pressure,' he said. BLOs have been complaining about the work pressure, citing unrealistic targets and inadequate training. 'I collapsed during a meeting with my supervisor. It's impossible to meet the daily targets,' said Animesh Nandy, a BLO in Kolkata, who was taken to a hospital. Many BLOs have been working despite health issues, including fever. A State Election Commission official announced that a four-member ECI team will visit Kolkata and surrounding areas next week to address technical issues encountered during the distribution of SIR enumeration forms. The BJP has set up assistance booths to help voters fill the forms, while accusing BLOs of violating ECI guidelines. The deadline for the SIR enumeration process is December 4, with the first draft electoral roll due to be published on December 9. Assembly polls in West Bengal are expected in March-April 2026.