The Block Development Officer (BDO) was summoned for a hearing during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. Lava BDO Bharati Chikbaraik appeared at the hearing, standing in line with ordinary citizens.
The hearing was conducted as the names of the BDO and his family members did not appear on the 2002 voter list. On Monday, Bharati Chikbaraik, along with his father Kapil Chikbaraik, sister Arti Chikbaraik, and brother Pranab Chikbaraik, attended the hearing.
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Following the development, the BJP indirectly taunted the BDO by referring to him as a Bhutanese citizen.
Jalpaiguri district BJP General Secretary Chandan Datta said, “So many issues would not have come to light without the SIR. Many officials and BDOs have come from other countries and are working here."
He said that in the case of the Lava BDO, who has been summoned for a hearing, neither her father’s name nor her own appeared on the 2002 voter list. He added that by calling a BDO for a hearing, the Election Commission had sent a clear message that no favouritism was being shown.
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Responding to the allegations, the BDO’s brother, Pranab Chikbaraik said, “We are Indians and residents of this place. Earlier, our house was in the Juranti tea garden. In 1999, we bought land in Meteli Hospital Para and built a house. After that, our names were added to the voter list. Despite several attempts earlier, we could not get our names included. Our father was working in a cement factory in Bhutan at the time, which is why his name could not be registered then. We have all the necessary papers and certificates.”
