During the enumeration process for the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Mathabhanga l block, Cooch Behar’s Pachagarh gram panchayat, Booth No. 239 (of booth-level agent BLA-2) at Shatkhatar Bari suburb, the BJP alleges that their BLA Nivas Das was assaulted. According to BJP claims, he was forced to wear a garland made of shoes and paraded in the locality. The finger of accusation was pointed at the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
According to the complaint, the BJP’s Agent was allegedly harassed by the TMC’s local party workers and a booth level officer (BLO) named Nishtith Ray. BJP further claims the BLO is related to a local TMC block-president and that the attack was led by TMC leader Ajit Das.
Following the fiasco, Cooch Behar district TMC chairman Girindranath Barman stated that they have no knowledge of any such incident. BLOs are under the Election Commission and their party is not involved. Meanwhile, BJP MLA Sushil Barman said that TMC fears BJP’s momentum, therefore it resorts to attacking BJP’s BLAs. The SIR exercise is an Election Commission initiative—a non-political one. She further said that the ruling party is unnecessarily politicising it.
