Bengal CEO Flags ‘Anti-Social Activity’ Outside Office, Warns Of Strict Action

The Chief Electoral Officer’s office in West Bengal on Wednesday flagged alleged "anti-social activity" outside its premises and warned that any attempt to disrupt the poll process would invite strict action.

In a post on X, the CEO's office alleged that a councillor from Kolkata's Beleghata, accompanied by miscreants, had gathered outside the office late on Tuesday night and raised slogans.

"Councillor Beleghata, with some hooligans, gheraoed the CEO's office and shouted slogans in the dead of night. Such anti-social activities will not be tolerated, and the law will take its own course. ECI will leave no stone unturned to ensure free and fair assembly elections.@ECISVEEP," the CEO office posted on X.

Councillors of ward 36 Sachin Singh, and ward 32 Shanti Ranjan Kundu, were present in front of the CEO's office, officials said.

The development comes against the backdrop of tension outside the CEO's office that began on Tuesday afternoon and continued intermittently till late in the night, officials said.

While no gathering was reported at the site on Wednesday morning, a strong police presence remained in place.

Incidentally, Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal had earlier said the EC would step in if police failed to act.

"Section 163 of BNSS has been imposed in the area by the Kolkata Police Commissioner. It is the responsibility of the police to maintain order. If they fail, the commission will take necessary action," he said.

Later in the night, Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand visited the CEO's office, and discussions were held on the law and order situation, sources said.

Singh, later speaking to reporters, said, "What I felt correct, I did. I have not committed any crime and spoke for the cause of the people." Meanwhile, the administration partially revised the boundaries of the Section 163 area around the CEO's office at 13 Strand Road, Fairly Place, citing a potential threat to law and order.

The CEO office premises have been tense for the past two days over allegations of illegal submission of Form 6 applications, when a group of booth-level officers (BLOs), perceived to be backed by the ruling Trinamool Congress, on Tuesday protested outside the CEO office here over alleged voter list manipulation, and scuffled with police and BJP workers.

Later, the situation escalated further when a SUCI rally approached the office, prompting clashes with security personnel.

Meanwhile, police on Wednesday registered a suo motu case in connection with the unrest. An FIR has been lodged at Hare Street police station against unidentified persons, officials said.

A senior official in the CEO's office said, "Any attempt to disrupt the electoral environment or block access to the office will not be tolerated. Law and order measures are in place to ensure free and fair elections."

TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had recently written to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the BJP of attempting to illegally include voters from outside West Bengal in this state's electoral rolls in bulk by means of Form 6 applications.

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had alleged on Monday that nearly 30,000 Form 6s were submitted by the BJP in a single day to register residents of other states as voters in West Bengal.