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In the letter, she referred to the state Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) directive directing district magistrates not to engage contract data-entry operators and Bangla Sahayata Kendra employees in SIR or any other election work.
CM Mamata Banerjee writes to EC again
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday once again wrote to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, seeking his immediate intervention in two recent matters.
In the letter, she referred to the state Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) directive directing district magistrates not to engage contract data-entry operators and Bangla Sahayata Kendra employees in SIR or any other election work.
The second issue relates to the Election Commission's proposal to set up polling stations inside private residential premises.
She also shared this letter on X. The Chief Minister questioned whether these steps were being taken to benefit any political party. The letter states, "It has recently come to light that the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal has directed District Election Officers not to engage contract data entry operators and Bangla Sahayata Kendra (BSK) employees for SIR or other electoral data-related tasks."
Chief Minister asks, "Why is there a need to outsource?"
The letter states, "The office of the Chief Electoral Officer of the state had issued a proposal to hire 1,000 data entry operators and 50 software developers for a period of one year." Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee asked why the need to outsource this work to an outside agency for an entire year when a large number of "competent professionals" are already performing these tasks in district offices."
She stated, "Traditionally, regional offices have employed contract data entry staff as per their needs. If there is no immediate need, District Election Officers are fully capable of hiring such personnel themselves."
Banerjee asked why the state's Chief Electoral Officer's office was playing this role on behalf of regional officials. "Is this being done at the behest of a political party to further its vested interests?" she wrote in the letter. "This timing and method certainly raise many suspicions."
Objection to the proposal to set up polling stations inside private residential complexes
The Chief Minister also objected to the proposal to set up polling stations inside private residential complexes. She stated that such locations could impact fairness, violate established rules, and create discriminatory conditions between residents and the general public.
She stated that polling stations have always been set up within government or semi-government institutions to ensure accessibility and fairness for all. Banerjee asked, "Why is such a step even being considered?" Again, the same question: is this being done under pressure from a political party to further their partisan interests? She claimed that such a decision could seriously impact the fairness of the electoral process.
