Trinamool Congress Sets Up Help Desks to Protect Voter Rights in Bengal's Special Intensive Revision

A virtual meeting of party leaders was held on Friday. (File)

Kolkata:

The Trinamool Congress has announced plans to establish area-specific help desks starting Tuesday, coinciding with Booth Level Officers' home visits, to ensure all legitimate voters are included in the voter list following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal. During a virtual meeting on Friday, the party's National General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee stated they would "take the fight to Delhi" if voters' names are excluded from the list.

Banerjee instructed party leaders across the state to maintain these help desks for at least one month and prepare for significant protests in Delhi should any voter omissions occur, according to sources. "We will take the fight to Delhi. I will also be on the streets for the next few months," Banerjee reportedly stated, while discussions about potential legal action were also held.

The Trinamool leadership has assigned special responsibilities to MPs and MLAs, directing senior leaders to organize teams of 15 individuals in each Assembly constituency. Party workers are currently comparing hard copies with the digital voter list.

Sources indicate multiple irregularities have been reported, particularly from Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar and Ashoknagar in North 24 Paraganas. "Voters whose names were present in the 2002 list are missing from the rolls now released by the Election Commission. Abhishek Banerjee highlighted this issue during the meeting," a source revealed.

Senior leadership was instructed to monitor the process closely in districts bordering Bangladesh, with Banerjee referencing the Assam situation to emphasize his concerns.

"We must support the people of Bongaon and Ranaghat. Similar to Assam, where numerous Hindus were excluded following the National Register of Citizens process, many people in Bengal will face challenges due to SIR. Trinamool workers must stand firmly with them and provide all necessary assistance," Banerjee stated.

The Trinamool leader had previously promised to fight for affected citizens during an address in the North 24 Paraganas district.

"Each family should feel secure. If even one person from Bengal is excluded from the voter list through the SIR and NRC, we will surround the Election Commission in Delhi with one lakh people and teach them a lesson," he had declared.