'Deleted Married Women's Names, Changed SIR Rules': Mamata Banerjee's 'BJP's Stooge' Charge Against ECI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers deleted women voters over surname mismatch during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of the electoral rolls in West Bengal. She further alleged that the 54 lakh names deleted during the process were done by misusing the powers of electoral registration officers (EROs).

"The EC, while sitting in Delhi, used AI tools devised by the BJP to delete names. These AI software accounted for the names mismatch in SIR data. They deleted names of women who changed surnames post marriage," CM Mamata Banerjee said while addressing a press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna.

ALSO READ: BMC Election: How India’s Richest Civic Body Earns And Spends; Why Its Budget Surpasses Delhi, Bengaluru?

She further alleged that BJP workers were caught red-handed transporting enumeration forms in bulk for deletion adding that the deleted voters were "genuine electors".

Claiming that 'logical discrepancy' was not part of the original SIR verification process, and that it was "included as an afterthought to add to deletions", Banerjee said that the "BJP-EC nexus" was planning to remove another one crore names from the final rolls.

"The EC has not allowed BLA-2s to attend hearings because the BJP couldn't amass its workers to do the job," the TMC Supremo said.

ALSO READ: ‘Not Grabbing Karoline’: Trump Cracks Awkward Joke About Press Secretary During Bumpy Air Force One Flight | WATCH

Meanwhile, EC has appointed 4 new Special Roll Observers to oversee the ongoing SIR in the state. Four IAS officers, Ratan Biswas, Vikas Singh, Sandeep Rewaji Rathod and Dr Shailesh have been appointed with immediate effect.

"The SROs will closely monitor the revision and verification exercises and ensure strict adherence to statutory instructions," an official was quoted as saying by PTI."

Besides SROs, the ECI has appointed observers at multiple levels to monitor the ongoing exercise. According to officials, quoted by PTI, the step has been taken to gain the confidence of locals. The notification said that the appointment would come into effect immediately and would remain in place until further notice.

The electoral roll revision exercise has been underway in West Bengal for the last few months, amid allegations of ECI siding with the BJP. Multiple BLOs have reportedly died or committed suicide, allegedly because of increased work pressure.

(With PTI Inputs)