Kamal Ghorui
Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the opposition in West Bengal, has raised concerns over the deployment of contractual and casual workers for vote counting duties in two constituencies, calling it a threat to the integrity of the democratic process.Adhikari, who is also BJP’s candidate from Bhowanipore, described the move as “a matter of grave concern and a direct assault on the sanctity of the democratic process.”“Is the fate of Democracy being handed over to CONTRACTUAL WORKERS?” Adhikari wrote.Referring to counting orders issued for 227-Pingla AC and 230-Daspur AC, he questioned the involvement of non-permanent staff in handling sensitive election materials.“How can ‘Jibika Sebaks,’ ‘Sahayaks,’ and ‘Contractual DEOs’ be entrusted with the sensitive task of handling EVMs, VVPATs, and Postal Ballots?” he asked, adding that such roles are “inherently vulnerable to political pressure and lack the institutional accountability required for a process as sacred as the counting of votes,” Adhikari said through a post on X.He also called for immediate intervention by the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal to ensure that only permanent government employees are deployed for counting duties. “This looks like a desperate attempt by the ruling dispensation to manipulate the final mandate through vulnerable personnel,” Adhikari alleged, urging a comprehensive audit of counting staff in Paschim Medinipur district.“The Election Commission of India must act to prevent the ‘Contractualization of Democracy.’ We will not allow the Mandate of the People to be tampered with by those whose jobs depend on the whims of the ruling party,” he said.The BJP leader’s remarks come amid allegations of EVM tampering in the constituency, with claims that the party’s symbol, the lotus, was “covered with tape” at certain polling booths in the Falta constituency of South 24 Parganas district.Repolling is underway in 15 polling stations in South 24 Parganas district, including 11 in Magrahat Paschim and four in Diamond Harbour constituencies.In a letter to the chief electoral officer of West Bengal, the Election Commission of India said the repoll was ordered based on inputs from the state election machinery, with voting scheduled from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm on the day
