Kolkata, Jan 2 || The Election Commission of India (ECI) has clarified why Trinamool Congress’ demand to allow the party’s booth-level agents at the ongoing hearing sessions on the claims and objections regarding the draft voters’ list in West Bengal was turned down by it.
The hearing session is the main part of the second stage of the three-phase Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state.
An insider from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said that in case the Trinamool Congress’ demand for allowing BLAs at the hearing session is accepted, then similar demands from other political parties, six national parties, and two state parties in the state registered with the ECI will also have to be accepted.
In that case, in each hearing table, there will be a total of 11 individuals, namely one Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), one Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO), one micro-observer, and eight BLOs from these eight political parties.