West Bengal assembly polls: BLOs, flooded with suppl list queries, cross another hurdle in SIR season

KOLKATA: Booth-level officers (BLOs) across the city have crossed another hurdle in the special intensive revision (SIR) season that set in more than four months ago. While the first supplementary list was released on Monday, the BLOs were flooded with calls since morning as electors were eager to know whether they have cleared the adjudication test or not.

"All electors placed under adjudication in my part number started counting hours from the morning about how to get to know about their status on the supplementary list. The first call I received from an elector was around 9.30 am, and I had no clue about the list. Even in the afternoon I was unaware if BLOs would have any role regarding the list today. I heard that the list would be out after 8 pm, but I don't know if it will reach us. But my electors kept calling me throughout the day to enquire about it," said a BLO in Bhowanipore.




"Being the linkman at ground level for the SIR exercise, BLOs like me are the go-to persons for those who need clarity about the electoral roll. Though we have not received any clear instruction about our role regarding the supplementary list, the supervisors have put us on alert that we may be asked to print and put up the list at the booth after its release," said another BLO from Tollygunge constituency.

The BLOs have been keeping in touch with the electors since Nov 4, when the special intensive revision of the electoral roll was rolled out in the state. Till Feb 14, the BLOs accompanied the electors to the hearing centres where they had to produce the EC-specified documents.

"When the final electoral roll was published on the evening of Feb 28, I was swamped with calls from people asking about their names on the roll. This evening I experienced the same as people were trying to figure out the status of their voting rights even before the list was released. Though I assured them that I would let them know after checking the list, I was not sure if I could do so. Even, I had no idea when the list will be uploaded on the EC's website," said a BLO from Howrah.

With many "known persons" having been placed under adjudication, the BLOs are equally anxious to know about their fate on the supplementary list.

A BLO from Shyampukur constituency said, "About 10 electors in my part number are waiting for the results of judicial scrutiny to be able to exercise their franchise in the upcoming assembly polls. I am equally concerned as some of them have been living and casting votes in the city for a long time. Till evening, I had no clarity whether the list will be sent to us, or I need to know the status of these electors from the EROs who are supposed to have the hard copy of the list."