In another expression of prevailing disagreement over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday addressed a letter to the Election Commission, accusing the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of issuing a “questionable” request for proposal (RfP) to outsource key election-related data work.
In consistent with her previous demonstrations against the exercise, Banerjee alleged that the move may be aimed at serving “vested interests”, while the BJP swiftly countered her charges, accusing the Trinamool of trying to pressure the poll body.
In her letter, Banerjee said she was “constrained” to approach the EC after learning that the CEO’s office had asked District Election Officers (DEOs) not to use their existing contractual data entry operators or Bangla Sahayata Kendra (BSK) staff for SIR-related activities.
Instead, she pointed out, the CEO has floated an RfP seeking to hire 1,000 data entry operators and 50 software developers for a one-year period.
Banerjee questioned why an external agency was being brought in when district offices already have experienced staff handling the same work.
“Traditionally, field offices have always hired their own personnel as per requirement. If there is an urgent need, DEOs are fully empowered to undertake such hiring themselves. Why then is the CEO’s office assuming this role? What substantive difference is expected between those already engaged and those to be hired through the agency?” she wrote.
She further asked whether the move was being undertaken “at the behest of a political party to serve vested interests,” adding that the timing and manner of the RfP “certainly raise legitimate doubts.”
Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, responding on X, said: “Why do you assume that the Hon’ble CEC is answerable to you? Don’t confuse him with Rajiva Sinha, who still has blood on his hands from the Panchayat Elections, which he conducted as your henchman.”
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya accused Mamata Banerjee of deploying one of her political agencies within government bodies.
“It is astonishing that you are objecting to an RfP being issued for engaging DEOs. It is widely known that one of your politically contracted agencies has penetrated multiple government bodies, sits in official meetings, and routinely meddles in administrative decisions. There are even allegations that members of this very agency were quietly appointed as DEOs and BSK staff,” Malviya said.
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