Tripura Congress Leader Threatens Public Beating of Poll Officials for Electoral Malpractice

Guwahati:

Tripura's senior Congress leader and former minister Sudip Roy Barman has issued a stern warning to poll officials engaged in voter list revision. During a party event on Sunday, he cautioned that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) would face public beating if they delete genuine voters' names or include fraudulent ones in the upcoming special revision of voter lists.

The revision process has not yet commenced in the BJP-led northeastern state. However, BJP allies are increasingly demanding Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Tripura.

Roy Barman alleged that the BJP has been manipulating election machinery both in Tripura and other states, influencing BLOs to remove legitimate voters supporting opposition parties while adding fake or duplicate entries to benefit the ruling coalition.

He emphasized that tactics reportedly used in states like Bihar would not be tolerated in Tripura. The Congress leader warned that BLOs engaging in electoral malpractices would not only face public backlash but could also lose their employment.

"BLOs will be publicly beaten up if they attempt to delete names of genuine voters or include fake names during SIR," he declared, adding that Congress workers would remain vigilant and actively resist any unethical interference in the electoral process.

The Congress MLA underscored his party's demand for a completely "transparent and error-free" electoral roll. "We have no objection if names of deceased voters or foreign nationals are removed. But any attempt to include ghost voters, fake voters, or duplicate and triplicate entries will not be tolerated," he insisted.

Roy Barman concluded by reminding that ensuring fair and accurate electoral rolls is the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission of India, urging officials to resist pressure from the ruling party.