Allegations have emerged of preventing a BLO from entering a housing complex in New Town. Several housing complexes have reportedly informed the BLOs of that the areas need to take prior permission. As a result, SIR forms have not yet been distributed to 15,000 voters in 16 booths in New Town.
Concerns are growing in administrative circles over this. BLOs are directly bringing complaints against residents in some places. Elsewhere, BLOs are unable to work due to excessive behaviour by security guards. Officials of the Kolkata Development Authority, including New Town, are worried about this.
According to district administration sources, BLOs are not getting entry to several housing complexes in Rajarhat and New Town. Allegations have emerged of misbehaviour with a female BLO at an upscale housing complex adjacent to Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute hospital in Action Area One. Not only that, she was also allegedly warned not to enter the housing complex.
An election official responsible for North 24 Parganas said, "A BLO was made to sit in the security room for a long time at a housing complex in New Town. She was also warned that she would not be allowed to enter the housing complex. The matter is being investigated."
Not just threats or verbal altercations, BLOs are also facing problems while trying to find house addresses by street numbers in New Town. Along with this, BLOs also complain that they have to struggle to reach flat residents after entering housing complexes following security protocols. Two upscale housing complexes in New Town, 'Sanjeeva Town' and 'Ideal Villa', fall under the Bhangar assembly constituency.
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There are about a thousand voters in these two housing complexes. An election official responsible for Bhangar said, "BLOs are working by sitting in community halls after speaking with housing committees in advance." Bidyutprakash Debnath, secretary of 'Greenfield Heights' in Action Area One, said, "Our housing complex has voters from four booths in 262 flats. It would be good if any BLO informs us when they will come. We will provide full cooperation."
Samir Gupta, head of New Town Citizens Welfare Fraternity, a residents' organisation in New Town, said, "In total, there are about 15,000 voters in 15 booths here. I myself am going around booths 307 and 308 as BLA; there's no problem. However, due to strict security, some housing complexes have certain restrictions, and I've also heard that BLOs are having problems entering."
Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of Bidhannagar, Suman Poddar, said, "We will soon hold a meeting with NKDA and members of residents' organisations to ensure that the SIR camp in New Town goes well. Meanwhile, BLOs have started working in IPS housing, Khaki and IAS Residency. This will make it easier for BLOs to work elsewhere."
